LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, 



"PS 350 I 



+ 



Shelf ,.UA6.3 hsi 3 
I 854 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 



NAPOLEON 



B plav in foxxv Bets 



BY 



HEXKY A. ADAMS, M.A. 



NE.W YORK 

J. SELWIN TAIT & SONS 

05 Fifth Avenue 

1894 



r FEB 121894^: 



-ft' 3^'^ 



■Jl^ 



W3 



TO MY AVIFE. 



PREFACE. 

In tlie development of tlie play, I have availed 
myself as little as possible of "poetic license." The 
scenes occur, without exception, exactly in the or- 
der, and at the time and place assigned to them in 
History. 

With the exception of Babette, all of the charac- 
ters are historical personages ; for even Imperotor, ■ 
the shade of Charlemagne, was seen on more than 
one occasion b}^ Napoleon — in his dreams. His 
faith in the entire accountability of such appearances 
is undisputed, and he has told us that the im^^res- 
sions made upon his mind by vivid presentations of 
dead men, and other unsubstantial fancies of his 
brain, had much to do in shaping his career and 
fostering his views on Destiny. Just before th6 
battle of Arcole, Napoleon saw Josephine's spirit 
distinctly, says Saint-Amand. 

Be^'ond the necessary grouping of the dialogues 
and incidents within the practicable limits of st;ige 
scenes, I feel that 1 have not done History much 
violence. 

As will appear by my brief " Outlines of the Char- 
acters," and numerous nppended notes, the senti- 



(] PREFA OK. 

Dients and traits, and frequently the very language, 
attril)nted to the driimatis i^ersonce, rest upon good 
authority. 

The Ilemolrsoi Mine, de Roniusat, Mme. de Stael, 
the Duchess of Abrantcs, Bourrienne, Pasquier, Con- 
stant, Inibert de Saint-Aniand, Marniont, Segur, 
Las Cases, O'Meara, etc., etc., have been minute- 
ly studied, no less than the more formal works of 
standard historians. Quite naturally, the jllemoivfi 
prove for the playwright the richer mine, their 
higher colouring and more fannliar details giving 
the portraits painted the touch of life. 

Napoleon has figured on the stage for half a cen- 
tury, but until very recently he has been made to 
cut a sorry figure, being the central person, merely, 
in pieces purely spectacular — or, still worse, the 
grotesque swashbuckler of more serious plays. 

The sudden and widespread revival of interest 
this 3'ear, bids fair to call from the French drama- 
tists of note some great Napoleon. Meanwdhle, an 
humble fellow-craftsman offers this modest effort. 

H. A. A. 

QuESTOVER Lodge, Christmas, 1893. 



CAST OF CHAKACTERS. 



Napoleon Emperor of the French. 

LuciEN Bonaparte Brother to Napoleon. 

Joseph Bonaparte , Brother to Napoleon. 

Talleyrand Minister of Foreign Affairs. 

FouciiE Minister of Police. 

Pius VII The reigniag Pope. 

Caulaincourt Duke of Vicenza. 

^'^^Y \ Marshals of France. 

IMacdonald S 

Constant Valet to Napoleon. 

Yvan A Court Physici • u. 

llusTAN A Mameluke Slave. 

Cardinal Fescii i^ncle to Napoleon. 

Imperator • ■ -4yi Hallucination. 

Josephine Emijress of the French. 

Countess Walkwska Mistress to Napoleon. 

Hortense Step-davghter to Napoleon. 

Mme. de Rem u sat A Lady in- Waiting. 

Mmic. Murat Sister to Napoleon. 

Babette A Chaniherniaid. 

Pages, Attendants, etc , etc. 



THE SCENES. 



Act I. : 1S04. At Bay. 

Scene 1 : The Library at Malmaison. 

S(;ene 2 : The Pavilion of Flora at tlie Tuilcries. 

Act TI. : 18:)T. Hkhinoon and Afti-.h. 

Scene 1 : A Piivate Room at Finkeiistciii Custle. 
ScI':ne 2 : A Terrace at Foutaiiiebleaii. 

Act III. : 180<). The Evening Saciiifre. 

Scene 1 : A Secret Boudoir at Saint-Cloud. 
Scene 2 : A Gallery at Foiitainebleau. 

Act IV. : 1814. The Shadow op Death. 

Scene 1 : A Bed-room at Malmaison. 
ScI':ne 2 : A Bed-room at Fontainebleau. 



THE STORY. 

"The Emperor had just been proclaimed. . . . 
The curtain has risen, the play begins, and no drama 
is fuller of contrasts, of incidents, of movement. 
The leading actor, Napoleon, was already as familiar 
with his part as if he had played it since his child- 
hood. JosepJwie is also at home in hers, . 
The minor actors are not so accustomed to their new 
positions." ^ 

So writes M. Imbert de Saint-Amand, whose yividly 
dramatic style has done so much toward making the 
people and the scenes of the Napoleonic era realities 
to us. Tlje brief magnificent decade of the First 
•Empire came to an end. The Emperor, deserted, 
stung witli the unendurable sense of failure and 
dashed and ruined hopes, must abdicate. The Mar- 
shals must return with the news of doom. They 
come. The little bed room on the second floor at 
Fontaiuebleau becomes the scene of what, dramati- 
cally speaking, is tlie real end. More tlian one 
writer has so declared it. M. de Bourrienne, Napo- 
leonic private secretary, says in his ^Memoirs : " Such 
was this night-scene, which possessed more dramatic 

' Tlie Court of the Empress Joseiiliine (Scribner's). pag-e 4. 



10 THE STORY. 



effect than maDy wliicli are performed on the stage ; 
on its denouement depended the political state of 
France, and the eaddence of all those who had already 
declared themselves in favour of the Bourbons.^ It is 
to the period of the Empire, therefore, that an effort 
to present the marvellous Corsican's career with due 
respect to that unity which fits a storj' for the stage, 
would best be confined. 

Theatrical situations and telling effects are, of 
course, to be found throughout the life of Napoleon. 
Splendid opportunities are offered, both in the bril- 
liant years before the Empire and the pathetic days 
at St. Helena. But it is rather to the historical 
painter than to the playwright that the dramatic 
situations during both those periods appeal. The 
13th Vendemiaire, the 18th Brumaire, the bridge at 
Arcole. ... a score of others, are sore tempta- 
tions, and to be met only by rigorous adhesion to 
those inexorable principles of composition which the 
exigencies of theatrical representation no less than 
the canons of good taste demand. In any other life 
any one of such crises must have been seized upon. 
But in the case of Bonaparte, Fortune has been so 
prodigal of splendors, that even the breathless in- 
terest of the IStli Brumaire, if used, would be an 
ante-climax. 

With his first abdication in April, 1814, the curtain 
reallj' falls upon Napoleon. The rest is but that 
natural "ever afterward" to which tlie skill of tlie 
'Memoirs, Vol. III., 435 (Scribner's;. 



THE STORY. 11 



dramatist and the imagination of the audience con- 
sign the peo})le in a play when falls the final curtain. 

The dazzling return from Elba, the Hundred Days, 
Waterloo, the English prison -ship . . . are, it 
must be confessed, a costly sacrifice to make upon 
the altar of the unities ; but made it must be. In- 
deed, these thrilling scenes form but an episode in 
no ^^•ise capable of being woven into the tinished plot. 
They were an unexpected flicker from the socket- 
sunk taper of a life. It was as if his audience, 
Europe, unwilling or unable to think him gone, had 
noisil}^ demanded one more look at the peerless 
actor. 

The curtain was rung up again. A feverish, un- 
utterable burst of acting follows. But it is the same 
last act. Nothing not said and done before is added : 
no situation, no motif is new. He abdicates once 
more. Again the treacheries, the biting of the dust, 
the broken heart. Again a prisoner on board a ship 
bound for an island. Then forever — curtain. 

The play begins at Malmaison, the charming coun- 
try-house which Josephine had bought. It is the 
spring of 1804. Napoleon has been First Consul for 
five 3'ears. Little by little all power had been en- 
trusted to him. The Republic exists in name alone. 
He is France. He has not yet said so. The proper 
moment has not yet arrived. It is approaching fast. 
And there are enemies. There are the Bourbons, 
the exiled Kino- of France. And there are the re- 



12 THE STORY 



public'.'iiis who Lave reiiiained true to the Revolution. 
And there are the iiameless fears of Josrphine, Napo- 
leon s wife. 

Assassination is in the air, has been attempted 
even. "Rumours of Bourbon boldness upon the near 
frontiers ; and Chouan plotters here in the heart of 
Paris. On every hand suspicion, jealou.sy, fear of 
Napoleon. The time has come to strike. The blow 
falls by an accident upon the young-, romantic, in- 
nocent Due D'Enghien, a Bourbon prince. 

Europe is horrilied ; Napoleon called a monster. 
Something nuist be done, and done at once. There 
is only one thing to do. The farce must end. The 
mask be Ldd aside, the Consulate become the Empire. 

At this point our plav begins. 

All is uneasiness around Napoleon. Josephine, 
"his star," predicts the worst — one of the motives 
of the tragedy. Tlie brothers of the Consul are 
divided. Two are awa}', one in disgrace. JosepJi, 
the eldest, witty, subservient, politic, will await 
events, Jyucien, republican to the core, breaks 
away. TaUeyrand and Fouclie fence for first influ- 
ence over the man of fate ; but neither publicly 
commits himself as yet, Napoleoa is at bay ! Pub- 
lic opinion has turned against him now. Even tlie 
aiany has grown restless, anxious. His dearest 
friends, Mme. cle liemuml, Horlem^e, his wife, and 
Caulaincoiivl, entreat, denounce, and apprehend the 
worst. His councillors are wary, double-faced. 

Shall he proclaim himself the state? 



THE STORY. 13 

His geiiiuy, the terrible lialluciuation of bis bfe, 
" L}}perator," appears. The die is cnst. "Vive I'Em- 
pereuL" ! " The first scene of tbe drama has been 
played. 

Tlie splendid ceremonies of the coronation have 
at last ended. The members of the Court, fatigued 
and not too much at home, wander about the gal- 
leries of the Tuileries ; gossip and conjecture and 
jealousy abound. 

Napoleonic sister, (kiroline JIuraf, begins her work 
of malice with Fouche. The venerable and saintly 
Fope, FiHS VIL, now installed in the Pavilion of Flora, 
is to receive the Court this evening. The Emperor 
realizes himself superbly. The zenith being now 
reached, nobody thinks that the decline must of 
necessity begiu — nobody feels this but the Empress : 
she does intensely. The shadow of the coming fate 
appears to her, but it is now no larger than a man's 
hand. Wait ! 

The Emperor projects his policy. His star is 
blazing in the blue above. Near the horizon only 
do we detect how rapidly stars, having once reached 
the meridian, fall. 

The cloud has cast its shadow on tlje face of the 
aged Pope. The Emperor's first night is not de- 
void of dreams, nor are the dreams of glor}^ oiih'- 
And now more blows, more startling acts, more 
glory are required. 



14 THE STORY. 



Three years have passed. The map of Europe 
has been changed. Its thrones have been at the 
disposal of Napoleon. 

Eylan and Friedland have just been added to 
the bright chaplet of his victories. He has retired 
to winter quarters at the Castle of Fiiikenstein. 
Europe in chorus sings his praises. But the cloud 
is larger than a nian's hand now. Josephine at May- 
ence, lies beneath it, wretched. 

Another woman now is in her place. " The only 
woman that Napoleon ever really loved." A timid 
and deep-eyed, passionate creature whom accident 
had brought within the magic reach of the ail-power- 
ful man. She now becomes the second motive of 
the theme — lies like an undefined but irresistible 
sub-influence in Napoleon's heart, is heard like an 
unspeakably sweet alto to Josephines own plaint — 
an alto at the last to mingle so sublimely, too, in 
those pathetic cadences at Malmaison. 

She, Countess Walewska, here in mid-winter at 
cold Finken stein, knows only that she loves Na- 
poleon, and that she lies secure, hushed, happy 
beyond all dreams, within his arms. 

liustan, the Mameluke slave, stirs up the great 
wood fire. Napoleon burns up Josephine's last 
letter. Marie Walewska sings sittiug at his feet. 
The world is at his feet, too — let the cold wind 
blow to-night. Tlie spring is coming. He will 
return to France covered with glory. The night 
has fallen. More wood there, Uustan ! It is dark. 



THE STORY. 15 



And this girl at Lis feet has come to teach him 
love. Paris is far away — too far to hear the sobs 
of Josephine, who somehow cannot sleep. 

The Conqueror of the World is back in France. 
Fete i\itevf'2le attests the people's joy. There is to 
be a jolly party of his friends at Fontainebleau. 
About the grounds groups of friends wander. 

Upon the terrace two friends are discovered when 
the curtain rises on this scene. He does not hear 
what all these friends have got to say. They come 
and go in groups of two and three. 

There is a little music now : some games, a lame 
attempt at dancing. Something is wrong. The 
merrymaking is a lugubrious failure. Will nobotly 
explain '? Where's T(fllei/)'and f Foiiche, Jomph, 
Mme. de Eemumt, A[me. Marat f K\\ dumb as 
oysters. '•' Later," whispers the tantalizing Talleij- 
rand. The devil ! Wliere's Josei^lilne? Ah! here 
on the terrace ! The cloud has hid the sun ! Away 
with it ! Nor must our dear Walewska remain an- 
other moment ! Fouche must be suppressed ! Mme. 
Marat, be patient ! All in good season — even your 
hate shall satiate itself. To-day is Josephine's and 
honour's and the new quadrille's. 

Out at Saint-Cloud there is a secret apartment. 
Two years have passed away. Josephines star has 
sunk into a sea of troubles. The liiant has been 



16 THE STORY. 



forging liis resistless way into the very heart of uni- 
versal power. Five years an Emperor. Tlie world 
is blind, and wondering, and afraid. There is no 
limit to this man's dominion ! And yet the vast and 
splendid fabric of his power has no foundation but 
his own frail life. There is no heir. There is no 
hope of one. The world cannot contrive to see, 
with all its spying, so far into NdixAeoiis motives 
as it would. Its sight cannot by any means reach 
to the little secret boudoir of this scene, nor its 
alarmed imagination conjure a guess so mad as is 
the truth. 

Marie Walcwfiha, about to be the mother of Na- 
poleon's child, lives in that small apartment at 
Saint-Cloud. 

The graceful Talleyrand meets Fouche^ much less 
graceful, blunt, "divorce her," by the adroit sugges- 
tion that Josephine can have a child by proxy and no 
one be the wiser. And if a child — why not this 
child ? Bat he does not allow sufficiently for what 
he probably was not aware existed outside the bour- 
geoisie, namely maternal instincts. At all events, 
here are a dove, a leopardess, a giant, and a babe en- 
tangled in the meshes of his net — and nothing land- 
ed. Indeed his cause is lost : not he ! He merely 
leaves the sinking Josephine, aiid gives Fouches less 
politic designs the needed savoir-faire. Divorce it 
must be. The cloud has covered all the heavens 
now. Tlie man of Destiny soars not from henceforth ; 
crashes, the rather, in trackless, lightless space, do- 



THE STORY. 17 



iiig wliat harm lie can — to no one so niucli barm as 
to himself, the Destroyer ! 

But the tinkling of the lute, and the low plaintive 
contralto — heard not beyond the walls of the boudoir 
— the world of love and of imagination in his Marie: s 
eyes, these still are his — here let him rest in peace a 
little while. 

At terribly historic Fontainebleau there is a gal- 
lery with a succession of embrasured windov/s. In 
one of these Foaclie is to unfold to Josephine the now 
perfected scheme for the divorce. France is his text. 

If it were merely to make room for some fresh 
wanton favourite, who would denounce it so inexor- 
abl}' as he, Fouche f If it were possible to hope 
for a legitimate child ! And any other — bah ! what 
honourable man could dream of so imposing upon 
France ? 

What then? Shall the Imperial power descend to 
one or other of the Bonapartes? 

It is enough ! The victim has been bound by 
cords the strength of which Fouche knew well 
enough. The sacrifice is the supremest in history — 
it means a living agony of death — but it is for him, 
Napoleon ; it is for France ! Come in, thou man of 
Fate — thy evening hastens, but now the lires of this 
thy evening sacrifice shall light the nioments which 
remain for thee : Come in, and show tliy wife thy 
Policy. She is thy star. She will not fail thee now. 



18 2'HE STORY. 



At Mcalmaison again after five years. A woman 
lies there dying — it is she, Joi^epJu'ne, the outcast 
Empress of the French. 

Death has no terrors, but this bad news is quite 
too hard to bear. He is in trouble ; Napoleon has 
been trampled to the earth. 

Here by her, is Ilortense, herself a Queen — more 
than outcast. And here, miraculously so, is she 
who reigned supreme over the man who ruled the 
world — Blarie Waleivaka ! 

She and her boy, who also is Napoleon's, and by 
the bed of Josephine, who lies here dying — dying 
and wishing that she could help Nupoleon ! 

The pleasure palace, this of Malmaison, witnesses 
much these days. 

And death and Napoleons ruin come nearer day 
by day. The Star has set forever — and he knows it. 

Through the long watches of those awful nights 
these three think of him, speak of him, pray for 
him, ceaselessly. These three. And he remembers 
— now that he cannot hope. 



It is not far from Malmaison to Fontainebleau : 
and it is here at Fontainebleau that the ruined man 
has at last fallen. Few remain faithful. On these 
he throws himself in hopeless, helpless pleadings. 
In vain. At every point, in very love, they have to 
show him that nothing now can possibly be done. 

He abdicates — withdraws his abdication — appeals 



THE STORY. 19 



once more. Offers iinlieard-of victories to France — 
an^'tbing. 

The Marshals come back to him hopeless. Abso- 
lute abdication. His son^ — for whom he flung away 
his Star — must be involved in his own ruin. Fate 
is ironical. 

And Josephine is d^'ing as he frets, and fumes, 
and gnaws his heart away. 

Death ! Let death end all. But even death had 
sided with the Bourbons, it would not come to him, 
although he conjured it with deadly drugs. 

No, he must live to drink the dregs of grief and 
desolation and remorse. 

Darkness is falling on those two royal palaces. 
In one Hortense is kissing her dead mother's face ; 
and in the other, at midnight, even Bustan the black 
slave, slinks from his post outside Napoleons door 
and flees, thus leaving him alone with memory. 



Curtain, 



BRIEF PERSONAL OUTLINES. 

Napoleon. 

The appearance and general cbaractenstics of the 
First Napoleon are too familiar to call for any 
lengthy notice here. The gossip of his secretaries, 
valets, and close friends has supplied ns with a few 
of his habitual traits, tricks, and moods, which niay 
be nsed by the player to the heightening of the 
colour of his portrayal. 

Private Secveinvy Bo iirrienue speaks of Napoleon's 
wont to sit on tables rather than chairs when inter- 
ested or excited ; his jerky, mussy way of taking- 
snuff (to which Las Cams demurs, loyally denying 
excess in its use, etc.) ; and his absent-minded 
moods, during which he would countermand every 
command, and keep his servants and aides running 
about to no purpose. 3[me. de Rhnuml describes 
his dress, in which he exercised a studied negligence 
— while tyrannically punctilious as to the appear- 
ance of everyone else. 

Another Secretary, JTeneoal, tells of his supersti- 
tious moods, and the supernatural effect upon him 
of church bells. Las Cases records his habit of 
crossing himself perpetually, (jliaucellor Pasquicr 



BRIEF PJiJUbJONAL OUTLINEt^. 21 



testifies to Napoleon's great tenderness in times of 
sorrow, or quiet joy. 

LuciEN Bonaparte. 
"Tall, ill-sliaped . . . very near-sigbted," 
says the chatty Mine. Junot (Duchess of A bran lis), of 
Lucien. He "had a fiery soul," according to Fas- 
quier ; was the bitterest enemy of Josephine, com- 
plains the gallant Bourriemie ; most independent 
and quick-tempered, declares Mme. Janof, 

Joseph BoxAPAP/rE. 
Brother Joseph was" witty, voluptuous, and eftem- 
inate," if Pasqider does him justice. He had, none 
the less, "a handsome face," was "fond of the so- 
ciety of women," and was possessed of " gentler 
manners than any of his brothers," says Mme. de 
Hem used. 

Talleyrand. 
Talleyrand was polished to a degree, a survival, in 
manners, of the old regime, and the typical njaster 
of ceremonies— all in addition to a depth and dui)lic- 
ity of heart and mind never surpassed, {llilers.) 
He "was careful in his dress, nsed perfumes, and 
was a lover of good cheer and all the pleasures of 
the senses," according to Mme. de Bemused. 

FoUCHK. 

" Careless of his appearance, he wore the gold 
lace and ribbons which were the insignia of his dio-. 



BRIEF PERSONAL OUTLINES. 



iiitiesas if he disilained to arrange them .... 
active, animated, always restless." So far Mme. de 
Remusdt. He maintained always, says Pasquier, 
" the outward appearance of imperturbable cool- 
ness." Indifference, perfidy, and cunning are gener- 
ally accorded to him. 

Pius VII. 

At the time he was about sixty-two years old ; but 

his appearance and bearing were most venerable. 

Saint-Amand speaks of the transparent holiness of 

the old man which commanded the reverent homage 

of the very atheists of Paris. " I never saw a man 

with a finer countenance," exclaims Eapp. {Bour- 

r'lemie.) 

Caulaincoukt, 

He had, says the Duchesf^ of Abrantls, " as much 
the manners of a gentleman as any man in France ; " 
and his "air of reserve," the Duchess thinks, only 
"superficial persons took for haughtiness." 

Ney. 
Napoleon's snappish charge that Marshal Ney was 
" factious,'' is due to Ney's unfailing firmness and 
frankness. He was a blunt, out-spoken, soldierly 
man. {Tliier.<, Scott, Bourrienne.) 

Macdonald. 
This Marshal was a man of very quiet but tremen- 
dous firmness of manner ; less blunt, but quite as 
positive as Ney. (Bourrienne.) 



BRIEF PERSONAL OUTLINES. 28 



Constant. 
The valet of Napoleon for inaDj years, from whose 
Memoir.^ we learn of the hero in dishabille. Con- 
stant was a dry wit and a kindly man withal. 

YVAN. 

Was the Court Physician who was in attendance 
at Fontainebleau on the night of the Emperor's at- 
tempt at suicide. [Hazlitt.) 

EUSTAN. 

This man was a Mameluke slave given to Napoleon 
in Egypt, in 1798, by the Sheik El Bekri, on the oc- 
casion of a festival. He became attached to Napo- 
leon's person, sleeping at his door, and jealously 
guarding it. Like his race, he was silent, oracular, 
and possessed of the loyal courage of a blood-hound. 
{Bourrlenne.) 

Cardinal Fesch. 
A maternal uncle to Napoleon, who with consider- 
able courage sided with the Cluu-ch against the Em- 
peror. Dignified. [Bourrienne.) 

Imperatok. 
I have ventured to embody in a bodiless ghost 
those hallucinfitions to which Napoleon was subject, 
and which most frequently emanated from his ab- 
sorbing thoughts on Charlemagne. 



24 BRIEF PERSONAL OUTLINES. 

Josephine. 
It were impertinent to sketch in re few lines so well- 
known a personage. It may be well for the actress 
to remember, however, that in every situation (even 
the death-bed scene), the charming Empress was 
conscious of the fact that "appearances are worth 
while," and that the minutest point of toilet and 
adornment is worthy of attention. For details con- 
sult the Memoirs of Mile. Acrlllion. 

Countess Walewska. 
Of this woman, " the only one Napoleon ever really 
loved," Saint- Amand says that she was a "charming 
person, with light hair, blue eyes, a brilliant com- 
plexion, a graceful figure, and dignified carriage." 
All writers mention her melancholy sweetness, which 
"only added to her beaut}^" 

Hoktense. 
The unfortunate daughter of Josephine had be- 
come, by the time of our play, broken and ill. Dig- 
nity, reserve, and earnestness, would seem to have 
been her strongest traits. {Mine, de lieniusai, Mnie. 
Jnnot, Sainl-Amand.) 

Mme. de Reimusat. 
To the graceful pen of M. de Talleyrand we owe 
our exact knowledge of the charms of Mme. de Bemu- 
mfs personality. (See his letter of 29th April, 1811.) 



BRIEF PEI180NAL OUTLINES. 



From scores of adjectives take these: "Graceful, 
unaffected, Dot thin, mingled tenderness and vivac- 
ity." It seems that she was given to wearing her 
hair over her forehead (bangs?) — "and that," says 
the former Bishop of Antun, "is a pity." 

Mme. Murat. 
"Struck me as very charming," generousty ex- 
claims her contemporary at Court, Aline. de Ilemuwf. 
{Memoirs.) "She bore a great resemblance to the 
Emperor," and was possessed of " seductive charms," 
says lasquier. {J/onoirs.) 

Babette. 
As to the fair Bahette, we trust there is no reason 
why she luight not have been historical. 



ACT I. 
At Bay.— 1804. 



ACT L 

Scene 1. — The Libraru ot AfalmaisonA 

Discovered — Joseph and Lucien Bonaparte angrili/ 
discussiiig. A large table strewn ivifh maps and 
jjapers ; cliairs, desks, globes, etc., etc. 

Joseph. 
Fudge ! Ball ! Absurd ! Lucien, you are a fool !— 
fool ! 

Lucien. 
Coward ! You are not ! Joseph, you are a tool ! 

Joseph. 
A tool ? In ^Yllose Lauds, pray ? Not in Napoleon's ? 

Lucieji. 

Yes! 

Joseph. 
No. 

Lncien. 
I say yes ! 

JosepjJi. 
No I 



30 NAPOLEON. 



Lucien. 

I say you lie, then ! 
I say that you are privy to his foul schemes. 
I say you've set a price upon your honour. 
You are infected with his base ambition. 
He has deceived the world and you completely. 
And who can wonder at it ? Look at these lines ! 

{Picks up a map of Europe from the table.) 
Here, these red, braggart, pencilled lines— look at 

them ! 
Then look at this ! This was the France of Nature 
Until the bloody finger of his rashness 
Smeared France, France, France, on lands that are 

not France. Look ! 
And the end is not yet. No ! You hope to see 
The whole of Europe forced into France by blood. 

Joseph. 

You missed your calling, Lucien, by my soul, man ! 
You should have gone into the Church. Ha, ha, ha ! 

Lucien. 

Perhaps ! Pretend I am a priest already, 

Come now, confess to me. Have you not plotted 

Murder? 

Joseph. 

Murder, vou say? 



NAPOLEON. 



Liicien. 
Of the Republic. 

Joseph. 
Oil ! of the Republic ! I thought you might mean 
Of the Due d'Eijgliieu. You start ! You did not 
know ! 

Lucien. 

Y'ou cannot mean it. Napoleon is not mad ? 
His butcheiT of armies men can forgive ; 
He knows how to transmute gore into glory. 
But let him know that wdien he adds the murder 
Of a Bourbon to his crimes, Europe will rise ! 

Joseph . 
You think so '? Not so bad as that ? Might lose 
friends. 

Liicie^}. 

If you haye influence with him, warn him now. 
But then, you cannot mean it, Jose]3li. Tell me ! 

Joseph. 
I will ! But— ha ! ha ! ha ! ha ! ha ! ha !■ ha ! ha ! 
Lucien, you do remind me of a story. 
Sit down, man, while I tell it — it is so good ! 
There was a cobbler once who had a wife, and — 

Lucien. 
This man would tipple at his own funeral ! 



32 NAPOLEON. 



Joseph. 



And fourteen cliiklreii living, and more in view- 



Lucie)). 
Damn everyone of them at once ! Now tell nie. 
What is this matter of the Due d'Eughien ? 
Napoleon did not eat, nor sleep, nor qaarrel ! "^ 
Something is all wrong. Madame de Kemusat 
Looked like a ghost.'^ Josephine sighed and sim- 
pered.^ 
Couriers kept coming with their infernal racket. 
I could not sleep nor ascertain the nature 
Of all this mystery.' Come, now, what is it? 
Another coup cVetcU f What z.s my brother ? 
King? Emperor? Czar? or is he great Mogul? 

Joseph. 
Not yet ! Not yet ! But when he is, remember 
He may remember these indiscretions, boy ! 

Lacie)). 
Let him remember ! Let him remember more ! 
Let him remember who helped him in Brumaire ; " 
Whose voice it was upheld him in the Tribune ; 
Who seconded his measures against all odds ; 
Who silenced all his foes in the Five Hundred ; 
Let him remember that it was Lucien. I, ' 
I who would gladly die for the Republic ! 
Let him remember furthermore, that Lucien 



NAPOLEON. 33 



Did not forsake Inm 'till he forsook old France ; 
But that, when he unmasked himself a tyrant, 
Trampled the liberties of France beneath him, 
Outraged the sacred comity of nations, 
And for his own advancement forswore all faith. 
Broke vows, betrayed old friends, lied — yes ! and 

murdered.^ 
. . . Then I denounced him ! Let him remem- 
ber that ! 

Joseph. 

Wh — ew ! Liicien, what in the devil's name, means 

this ? 
Who has been stirring np all your bad blood thus ? 
You really do Napoleon injustice. 
His very life is not safe now in Paris. 
It is all honeycombed with Chouan plotters,^ 
In close communication with the Bourbons. 
Napoleon really must defend himself.''^ 



Has he no friends ? 



Laden. 

Joseph. 
No! he has only courtiers.'^ 

Lucie n. 

True ! True ! Napoleon now must protect himself. 
Had he been true^ — but never mind ! What about 
D'Eugliien? Has he been apprehended— murdered? 



34 NAPOLEON. 



Joseph. 
Arrested, but on Napoleon's word, quite safe. 

Jjucien. 
God grant it, but I have m}^ doubts. Where is lie? 

Joseph. 
At Vincennes.^^ 

Lucien. 
So near as that? I fear some wrong. 
If — but why anticipate ? Where is Fouche? 

Joseph. 
Here. 

Lucien. 
And Tallevrand ? 





Joseph. 




Here too. 




Lucien. 




And Caulaiucourt? 




Joseph. 


Not yet returned. 


But why? 




Lucien. 




I wish he had, then. 



Joseph. 
You puzzle me. 



NAPOLEOX. 35 



Lucien. 
Pray, do not alarm ^^ourself, 
For I meant nothing by it. I do not like 
Foucbe, nor Talleyrand, you know. I do like 
CaulaincoLirt, and I regret his being sent 
On any such nefarious expedition. ^'^ 

Joseph. 
It is extremely close here. Let us go out. 

Lucien. 
In heaven's name, Joseph, — out on the terrace. 
Something is choking me — like D'Enghien's fingers. 

Joseph. 
Nonsense ! Come ! Depend upon Napoleon's word. 
Come ! Come ! France is Napoleon. Don't be ab- 
surd. (Exeunt. 

Enter Mme. de Roiusat, hurrying and sobbing. 

Mme. de Itemusat. 
Monsieur Lucien ! Monsieur Lucien ! Where are 
you ? 

Re-enter Lucien and Joseph. 

Lucien. 
Here ! IMadame de Remusat — Crying ! What ! 
Speak ! 



36 Js'AFOLEON. 



Mme. de B emu sat. 
The Due — the Due — d'Engliieii — was shot this 
iiiorning'. 

Lucien. 

Napoleon ! Was it for this I bled for 3'ou? 
Joseph, this means the end ! This is perdition ! 

Joseph. 
Fool ! Cannot you read the writing on the wall ? 
It means the Empire — 

Liicien. 
Hold ! Not another word ! 
Madame, where is my brother? God ! What a deed 
Is this ! No prate of destiny will mend it. 

]\Ime. de BemusaL 
He is with Messieurs Talleyrand and Fouehe, 
I believe — raves madly over a mistake 
Whieh had been made J' 

Luc ten. 
Mistake? Damnable error! 

Enough of this. Come ! Has Josephine been told ? 

]\Ime. de Mejiinsat. 
"Twas she who told me. She's paralyzed with grief ; 



NAPOLEON. 37 



Moans that her doom is fixed ; predicts death, ruiu, 
Napoleon's overthrow— every tbing dreadfulj^ 

Lncien. 
And she is right. 

Joseph. 
Perliaps she is, fool — idiot ! 
Bat my advice is now, that you hold your tongue. 
I know Napoleon better than you do, Sir, 
He is at bay. Beware ! Come, Madame, with me. 
[Exeunt Joseph and Mme. de Ri^.MusAT. 

Lvcieii. 
At bay, is he? Hark ! Is that the yelping pack? 
[Cliilter of aiu/ri/ voices liefird withoui.) 

(Exit LuciEN, mun'nig. 

Enter Constant, ilie valet. 

Constant. 
(Crossing quicldy to l.) 
Dear ! dear ! dear ! dear! ! dear ! ! ! It is, " Con- 
stant, do that ! " 
I do't, and then it is, "Constant, you blockhead, 
"What are you doing that for? " T-r-r-r-rumpery ! 

[Hurries away to l. 

Enter B.\bette at l., meets Constant. 
Batjette. 
Babettethis! Babette that ! Here! There! Every- 
where ! 



NAPOLEON. 



Not a solitary wink of sleep all niglit ! 
Hj'ster-r-r-r- r-r-r-rics ! 
[Sails across.) 

Constant. 
Citizeness Babette seems much excited ! ^^' 

Bahette. 
No, Citizen Constant, I'm not excited. 
I'm mad ! Madame called me a little ninny ! 

Con>tant. 
Is that all ? Called you a little ninnj', eh ? 
What's that compared to having a boot-jack thrown 
Square at your head ? Called you a little ninny ! 
How would you like to have to shave a madman? 
I had to chase him round the room all lathered,^' 
And shave him on the fl}^, while he w\as writing, 
Talking, tearing, ramping, ordering — stark mad ! 

Bahetle. 
And what's the matter, eh. Citizen Constant ? 

Constant. 
What is the matter? Oh ! heaven only knows ; 
Citizen Talleyrand says one thing ; Fouche 
Another. Between ourselves, Babette, both lie. 
They're deep, but not so deep as is their master. 
They tlrink they know him through and through — 

They do not. 
One has to shave a man before he knows him. 



NAPOLEON. 39 



Bahette. 
And that's true, Citizen Constant, with women. 
Would you beHeve it ? Madame dressing and dressed 
Is not the same creature — not by any means. 



Not really ? Eh ? 



Constant. 

Bahette. 
Upon my word of honour. 



Constant. 
And what's the main distinction ? Of quality ? 

BaJjette. 
Of quantity, ha, ha, ha, ha, quantity ! 
The madame the world knows is a composite ; 
Heaven made a part, and I do all the rest. 

Constant. 
The finished article does you both credit. 

Bahette. 
{Courtesy lug.) 
Heaven thanks Citizen Constant as I do. 
Bat what, since you're so knowing, is in the air ? 

Constant. 
Can you keep secrets ? 



40 NAPOLEON. 



Babette. 

I keep secrets ! How long- 
Do you imagine that I would be allowed 
To dress and undress Madame, if I could not ? 

Constant. 
True ! Citizen ess Babette — of course, of course. 
Well then, I'll tell you. What's in the air, you say ? 
This, dear Babette ; there's going- to be a change. 

Babette. 
What ! You're not going without informing me ? 

Conntant. 
{Returning.) 
Promise not to tell ! 

Babette. 
Quick ! Someone is calling ! 
{Voiees heard witlwut.) 

Constant. 

Citizeness Babette, m}' master is deep ! 

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha ! Adieu, my dear Babette. 

(Exit, 
Babette. 

Preposterous man ! preposterous monster ! 

Are they all gone daft? And over what, forsooth ? 

So far as I can see thev have done nothing' 



NAPOLEON. 41 



But kill one Bourbon ! That's iiotbiiig- ^ew in 

France. 
There's something in this! Mark my ^vo^as ! Ill 

find out ! 
I'll dr-r-r-ress it out of Madame before dinner ! 

{E.riL 

(Napoleon's voice heard wifhoiit.) 

Enter Napoleon and Josephlne ivho clings to him.'^^ 

Josephine, 
Bonaparte, don't be a King, I beg of you ! 
Am I not Josephine, your star? — You said soj'-* 

Nf/pofi'oii, 

I thought that Lucieii was here, and Joseph. Don't, 
Don't, Josephine — this is iio tinje for weakness.-'^ 

[Diseti gages h imself. ) 
Somebod}', there ! Command my brother's pres- 
ence. 
Now, wife, what is it ? Crying ! Fie, Josephine ! 
I shall be forced to add the name of D'Engliien 
To the long list of those of whom I have been 
Jealous, if you so mourn him."-i Come, come, my 

star, 
The crisis of my fortune has been reached. Tliis 

day, 
This day I am to fight the battle of my life ! ■ 
And you desert me ? It is not kind of vou. 



42 NAPOLEON. 



Josephine. 
But was it necessary to destroy him ? 

Napoleon. 

As the event proved, yes. There was some errour.^- 
My orders were not followed. I cannot say 
Who dared to disobey me till Canlainconrt 
Arrives. Bat then, this is not women's business ! ^' 
Josephine, look you. The trouble of your dreams 
Last night . . . '^^ 

Josephine. 
Last night? Say for a year, Napoleon. 

Napoleon. 
The trouble of your dreams had a foundation. 

Josephine. 

Alas ! Napoleon, the troubled dreams of wives 
Are never causeless. The shadows which events 
Are said to cast as they approach, fall always 
First upon the white solicitude which makes 
So large a portion of every true wife's life- — 
Solicitude so white, so sensitive, that 
Any shadow, aye, be it no larger than 
A man's hand even, is ominous enough 
To terrify, to break one's heart, as mine breaks. 



NAPOLEON. 43 



Na-poleon. 
Don't, Josephine, don't ! You know I can't bear 

this ! 
Come, sit down, darling. I have mncli to say to 
you. 

Josp.pli ine. 
Say anything, but . . . 

Napoleon. 
But what ? 

Joiippldne. 

You know but what. 

Napoleon. 
Well then, I will not. But you must hear me out. 

(JosEpmNE situ ; Napoleon walks about.) 
My star rose at Areola.'"' Before that day 
Power was a pastime and Destin}- a word. 
The victories which crowned my arms on all sides 
Meant scarcely more to me than the caresses 
Of that mistress, Fate, who would grow tired of me 
And leave me in the lurch at some great crisis. 
The flatteries of France intoxicated, 
Bat did not deceive me. I was not so young 
As to imagine that men really loved me. 
They feared me. I knew that. But let me Jose 

one 
Battle, and I could hear their sneers of " Upstart ! " 



44 NAPOLEON. 



Yes ! Scores of times, in dreams npon my camp- 
bed 

I bave lost tbat figbt, and France bas spit at me,^^ 

But, Josepbine, at Areola, I saw it. 

Wben I bad worked tbat miracle, Destiny 

Blazed, and for tbe first time, I bebeld myself. 

Tbat nigbt I saw it. Are you prepared to bear ? 

I saw tbe sbade of Cbarlemagne, Josepbine ! 

Crowned, bearing tbe conquered world in bis rigbt 
band. 

He beckoned to me. And I came back to France 

An Emperor ! 

No! 

Nopoleon. 

Yes ! Josepbine, in soul ! 
An Emperor, in my invagination. 
Imagination rules tbe world. ^^ And I sball ! 
From tbencefortb all was cbanged. Tbe map of 

Europe, 
Tbe boundaries of nations, tbe tbrones of kings — 
All was to be at my disposal. Wbat, tben, 
Was tbe poltroon Director}^, wbat all France, 
Tb[it tbey sbould give me orders, bamper my will ? 
Tbe Eigbteentb Brumaire was a necessity. 
I mnst become First Consul, or all was lost. 

Josephine. 
You are First Consul, Bonaparte. Now, wbat more ? 



NAPOLEON. 4.-) 



Ncvpoleon. 
This, Josephine. Look iii the map of Europe. 
These red lines show what has been done ah'eady. 
All they include is France, or subject to her ; 
But nothing- is secure. At any moment 
What may this multiplicit}^ of counsels -'^ 
Not undo ? An Empire iieeds an Emperor : 
France is an Empire, and Destiny calls me ! 

Josepliine. 
Pause, Bonaparte. I also have seen visions. 
I've seen Death sitting upon the throne of France. 

Enter a Servant. 
Napoleon. 
It is time, then, that I dethrone Death. Well? 
Well? 

Servant. 
Citizen General Caulaincourt. 

Napoleon. 

Admit him ! 
Now, Josephine, for heaven's sake be quiet. 

JoHepldne. 
Yes ! Yes ! 

Eater Caulaincourt aiid Hortexse. 
That murderer, Hortensel Avoid him I ■'•' 



• 46 NAPOLEON. 



Napoleon. 
Hold your tongue, madame ! Well, Caulaincourt, 
explain ! 

Hortenm. 

He will ! He will ! He has explained already. 

Napoleon. 
Hush, Hortense ! Who disobeyed me, Caulain- 
court ? 

Caulaincourt. 

General, not I. I was obedient.''^ 

Napoleon. 
As ever, Caulaincourt. But of my letter ? •'^^ 
I wrote them to postpone the execution. 
Savary says that no such letter reached him. 
Oh ! if it had, all tbis might have been spared us. 

Josepldne. 
And you are innocent of D'Enghien's blood ?^^ 

Napoleon. 
Am I not, Caulaincourt ? 

Caulaincourt. 

Alas ! I fear not ! 

Napoleon. 
How ! Traitor ! Scoundrel ! You turn upon me, too ? 



NAPOLEON. 47 



Caulain court. 
Tlie Citizen First Consul has a few friends- 



Napoleon. 
Has be, indeed ? Thanks ! He can dispense with joii. 

Joseph ine. 
Must General Caulaincourt insult liis cliief 
When all the world seems to be turned against him ? 

CaulaiiicourL 
Madame did not observe that the First Consul 
Would not allow^ me to conclude my sentence. 

Napoleon. 
Pardon me, i)ray. There were some other insults ? 

Caulaincourt. 
With the First Consul's pardon, I meant to say, 
That the First Consul has yet a few true friends 
Who tell him the plain truth. I am one of them.-'^ 

Napoleon. 
And the plain truth is 

Caulaincourt. 

That the First Consul wished 
The execution of the Due d'Enghien ! 

Napoleon. 
I ordered it postponed ! 



48 NAPOLEON. 



Caulaincourt. 

Postponed — ill order 
To extort important secrets from him first.'^^ 
But let none of the guilt be tlie First Consul's : 
Let me be punished. I was not near Vincennes, 
Nor had I heard about the horrid murder 
Until I came here. I obeyed my orders. 
I was commanded to arrest D'Eiighien. 
1 did arrest him ; brought him to Savary. 
I disapproved this, but did not disobey .^^ 
Therefore I, Caulaincourt, must be called butcher. 
Did I not seize him? bring him to the shambles? 
The innocence of the First Consul is quite clear. •^'' 
Madame is right. Yes, I am the murderer. 
Of the First Consul I have no more to ask 
Than that he may remember that it was through 
Unquestioning obedience that Caulaincourt 
Came to disgrace. My sword. Mesdames, my 
homage. 
(Offers his sword to Napoleon.) 

Napoleon. 
Keep it ; but go ! 

{E.cit Caulaincouijt. 

I shall need swords like that one. 
Hortense, you saved him. Had it not been for you, 
I should have flung him from me, as I have scores. 

Hortense. 
Grant me another boon, and I'll believe you. 



NAPOLEON. 49 



Josephine. 
Hortense, implore him, to resist temptation. 

Enter Mme. Muiut, unobserved. 

Napoleon. 
You are not discreet. Horteuse herself, my dear, 
Is a temptation ! 

Mme. Murat. 
(Aside.) Did I not know as much ? 

Horfense. 
(Kneeling.) 
Succumb to me then ! 

Mme. Marat. 
(Aside.) Dear me ! before his wife ! 

Hortense. 
Succumb ! 

Napoteoii. 
I do. What is your pleasure, Hortense ? 

Hortense. 
That you will not be hoodwinked by Mme. Murat.''' 

3[me. Marat. 
(Aside.) 
Indeed ! I like that. 



50 NAPOLEON. 



Josephine. 
Pray, Hor tense, be cautious ! 

Mme. 3Iaraf. 
(Aside.) 
Tliese Beaubarnais ! 

Napoleon. 
Is CaroHne still plotting ? 

Iloiiense. 
Ceaselessly, fiendisbh", against my motber.^^ 

Josephine. 
Hortense ! 

Napoleon. 

Bonrrienne ! Constant ! Tbere, somebody ! 

Enler Constant. 

Call Madame Murat ! 

[Ej:it Constant. 
Mme. Marat. 

Madame Murat is bere ! 

Napoleon. 
Josepbine, Hortense, leave ber alone witb me. 

[Exeunt Josephine and Hortense. 
"Well, vixen, marplot, vvbat are you batcbing now ? 

]\[me. Marat. 
Ha, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba ! ba ! 



NAPOLEON. 51 



Napoleon. 
You have l3een nosing with Citizen Fouche. 

Mme. Marat. 
Yes, we've been nosing, and we have smelt a rat. 

Napoleon. 
We know too much of one another, sister, 
For this tomfoolery. What are yoa up to ? 

Mme. Marat. 
Trying to save you — but, then, what is the use ? 
Don't be a fool, Napoleon ! These Beauharnais 
Stand between you and glor}', and while you waste 
These precious hours in mooning with an idiot 
Whom you call your wife 

Napoleon. 

By the cross, Caroline ! 

Mme. Ma7XLt. 
Yes ! and in fondling that little chit, Hortense, 
AVhom all the world believes to be j'our mistress,'''-* 
The opportunity of all your life slips 
Through yoar foolish fingers.^^ Have you no courage ? 
Europe is hissing you : France calling you names. 
Paris is all aflame : the arm}^ restless. 
And resignations by the score are threatened. 
Why, Bonaj^arte, your very servants giggle. 
And all the household feels that 3^our end has come. 



52 NAPOLEON. 



Napoleon. 
In God's name, then, I'll show them what end has 
come. {Exit Napoleon. 

Mme. 3Turot. 
These are the moments which make up history ! 

Enter Rust an. 

Rustan, the Citizen Foiiche is somewhere. 
Give him the compliments of Madame Marat, 
And this. {Writes a brief note.) 

So ! Lose no time. You understand me ? 

JRiistan. 
To hear is to obe}'. 

(Starts toward the door.) 

Mme. Murat. 
And return quickly. 
And then remain near the First Consul's person, 
Prepared for an3^thing-. He is in danger. 

Rastan. 
Rastan will be prepared. Rustan is sleej^less. 

[Exit, fingering his poniard. 

Mme. Marat. 
God ! If I only were a man, I'd show them ! 



NAPOLEON. 53 



Enter Fouche. 

Fouche. 
Madame Mnrat is not a politician. 

3Tme. Muraf. ■ 
By politician 3-011 mean coward, doubtless. 

Fouche. 
All ! well ! But I must beg Madame not to write 
Firebrand words like these, to me, at 'dwy rate. 

Blme. Murat. 
The Citizen Fouche has changed his mind, then? 

Fouche. 
Say his words, rather. His mind remains un- 
changed.^^ 
Citizen Talleyrand has undertaken 
To advocate my dangerous policy, 
Which is extremely good of him. It leaves me 
Free to oppose my policy in public. 
Which I shall do, as every passing hour 
Deepens the danger which surrounds the Consul. 
And Talleyrand is very near a statesman : ^' 
He lies so well, and nobody expects him 
To mean a word he says ; but Fouche is good I 
The Chaplain of all the immoralities *■' 
Cannot impair his reputation, can he ? 
No, Talleyrand must act : Fouche be silent. 



54 NAPOLEON. 



Enter Napoleon, Talleyrand, Joseph, and Lucien. 

Talleyrand. 
When the First Consul asks whence came my for- 
tune, 
I merely answer that I bought stock in France 
The clay before the Eighteenth Brumaire, and sold 
On the day after. The profit realized 
Was the foundation of my fortune/^^ 

Lucien. 
(Aside.) Hear him ! 

Napoleon. 
Citizen Talleyrand has told the truth there. 

Fouche. 
And yet how gracefully withal ! It sounded 
Quite as smooth as any lie I ever heard ! 

Na^wleon. 
You jest, Fouche ? This is no time for jesting. 
God's wounds ! Am I a dog for you to harry ? 
Joseph, since you alone seem to be a man, 
Tell them what my deteiiniuation is. Speak ! 

Ijucien. 
Think twice before j^ou do so ! I beseech you ! 

Napoleon. 
Lucien, I have endured enough from you. Speak ! 
(To Joseph.) 



NAPOLEON. 



Fouchk 
V.'ere it not best that such a proclamation 
ShoLikl emanate from the establislied — 

Nopolecm. 

[To Joseph.) Speak ! 

TaUeijrcmd. 

Best wait until we feel the pulse of Europe. 

Foiivlt'e. 
And of the arm}-. Savary fears the worst. 

Lucteii. 

And the resii^nation of Chateaubriand '^ 

Has just arrived : does that mean nothing, think 

you ? 

Josepli. 

Truly, Napoleon, there does seem need of care. 

Napoleon. 
Out ! Malediction ! Have I no friends ? Eustau ! 

Enter Rustan brandishing Jiis poniard. 

riusfan. 
E-ustan sleeps not. In which heart first ? 

Napoleon. 

Hold, hell-dog! 
Find Madame Bonaparte, and bid her come here. 



56 NAPOLEON. 



Talleyrand. 
Are we to iiiiderstand that even onr lives 
Are jeopardized in the First Consurs preseiice ? 

Ndixjleou. 
No, Talleyrand, no ! Withdraw that caknnny ! 

Talleyrand. 
I do. Before Madanie arrives, however, 
Permit nie to withdraw. My veneration 
For her is so deej), that I cannot consent 
To have her witness what, I am now convinced, 
It will become my very painful duty 
Both to say and do. 

Mme. Mtind. 
{Aaide to LuciEN.) 

Do yon hear that, Lncien ? 
I had not heard of this amour ; had you? 

Napoleon. 
Go, Talleyrand, by all means, but be assured 
That you shall not escaj^e, if harm befall me. 
Nor profit by ray favour, if I succeed. 
Sycophant, coward, sneak, I shall unveil you ! 

Enter Josephine, slowly. 

Talleyrand. 
WLen the First Consul requires my services^ 



NAPOLEON. rj7 



Napoleon. 
I shall know, TalleyraiKl, just what to expect. 
You are a thief, a coward without honour.**' 
You don't believe in God, whose j^riest you once 

were. 
You've been a traitor all your life to duty. 
Nothing- is sacred to you. Y'ou would sell God ! 
Have I not loaded you with gifts, yon ingrate ? 
Yet there is nothing that you would hesitate 
To do against me, if I should be in straits. 
You wish me to proclaim myself Emj^eror, 
But don't dare to publicly commit yourself 
Until the risk be past, and this unhappy 
Matter of D'Enghien blown over. Hj-pocrite ! 
Who drove me to deal cruelly with him? You ! '* 
By whom was I advised of his location ? 
You, yon, yon ! I say. What are you scheming for ? 
Bah ! I could smash you as I could a wine-glass ; 
But I would not touch you. I despise you ! Go ! 
{Exit Talleyeand, icith great dignity. 

Josephine. 
My presence was required by the First Consul ? 

Napoleon. 
Ah, Josephine, thrice welcome. I am aloneJ^ 

Lncien. 
There are three Bonapartes at least, Napoleon, 
In the First Consul's presence at this moment. 



58 NAPOLEON. 



Napoleon. 
Tliey do not signify. Josepliine, come liere. 

Joseph. 
Bv heaven, this is too much. Come, Caroline. 

[ExeAUit Joseph and Caroliis'e. 

Jo^epliuie. 
Don't let them go in anger. Pray call them back. 

N/polfOJi. 
They will return in time : Joseph to borrow, 
And Caroline to plot. Lncieu, you still here ? 

Lucie IK 
I am still here, Napoleon, but 

Napoleon. 
Well, Lucien, 
Have you read carefully my propositiou ? 

Lucien. 
I have. 

Napoleon. 
And ? 

Lucien. 
I reject it, and defy you ! 

Nrpoleon. 
Lucien, I am the man of Destiny, I ! 
Brother, I beg you in God's name, rise with me. 



NAPOLEON. 50 



I am about to found a vast uew empire. 
Choose any portion of it : it shall be yours."^^ 

Fouche. 
Pro^dc^ed always that our vast schemes succeed ! 

Luclen. 
You tempt in vain. You are the blinded victim 
Of hallucination — 

Josephine. 

Have I not said so ? 

Luclen. 
You ask me to disown my wife in order 
That I may the better serve your purposes. 
You ask me to believe that you will trample 
The powers of Europe underneath your feet ; 
That you will soon be able to cut the world 
Into as many slices as you have friends. 
You are about to murder the Republic. 
You will ascend the imperial throne over 
The murdered institutions of your country. 
Raised up by violence you will require crime 
To carry on your universal outrage. 
And 3'ou will fall — you — and be crushed like this ! ^^ 
(Seizes a small screen and dashes to ijieces.) 

{Exit. 
Foil die. 

Was he the seventh sou ? Saints ! What a preacher ! 
(Napoleon remains silent a long irhile and then, 
starting up, rusJies to the door.) 



60 NAPOLEON. 



Napoleon. 
Lueien ! Liicieu ! — 

But never mind ! 

Josephine ! 
JoHepliine. 
Decide ! decide ! — I — 

This terrible suspense ! 

Napoleon. 
Help 3ne to decide. I falter, Josephine ! 

Fouche. 
{Tnvperator glides in as Foucni^] speaks.) 
You are in doubt ? Give France the benefit ! 

Napoleon. 

Go! 
{Exit Fouche. 
Look, Josephine, look ! Charlemagne walks again ! 

Josephine. 
I can see nothing. You are worn out and dream. 
(Napoleon yb//oit;s Imperator, loho lifts the world 
high in the air.) 

Napoleon. 

I will ! I will !— Gone ? 

[Evit Imperator. 
Josephine, the Empire ! 

Curtain. 



NAPOLEON. 01 



Scene 2. — A stately room in the Pavilion of Flora in 
the palace of til e Tuileries. Eveninr/.^^ 

DiscovEEED — Cardinal Fesch icolking with the Pope. 

A throne for Napoleon ; a smaller throne for His 

Ploliness. 

Fesch. 
Yonr Holiness takes it too seriously. 
Did Dot 3'our Holiness observe, that when His 
Imperial Majesty reached forth to take ■'' 
The Crown, which it had been more seemly he 

should 
Have w\aited to receive, he was excited, 
Nervous ? It chanced that whence I stood I could 

see 
Plainly that His Imperial Majesty, ' 
My nephew, was visibly wrought up and moved. 

Pius VIL 
Your Eminence had the advantage of us ; 
For where we stood — immediately in front, 
And near enough to touch — we saw too plainly. 
We saw that we had been inveigled into 
Our most unusual departure from the 
Eternal City by the false promises 
Of an ambitious enemy of Holy 
Clnirch. We saw that what was heralded abroad- 
As the revival of a prerogative. 
Now many years denied the Sovereign Pontiffs, 



62 NAPOLEON. 



Niimely, the right to crown all Christiiin rulers, -^^ 
Was made but the occasion of fresh insults. 
Tiie upstart crowned himself, while we stood sheep- 
ish, 
As though we had incurred the dangers of the 
Journey, endured the unaccustomed hardships, 
Gone counter to the dictates of our prudence,-^'* 
Imperilling the person of Christ's Vicar, 
And all, forsooth, that we might be made sport of. 

FeHch. 
It was, indeed, a serious miscarriage ; 
But I am sure that accident, not malice, 
Is to be charged with it. Your Holiness is 
In all other points assured of the devout 
And tilial feelings of His Majesty? 



Yes, they have made an old man comfortable. 

INIore, they have spared no words, no protestations. 

I would that we might comfort our poor daughter, 

This Josephine, now crowned, when the black tem- 
pest. 

Which must inevitably whelm her, comes. 

Saw you, my son, from where you stood, Joseph- 
ine's '^^ 

Face, the moment that the Crown was placed 

Upon Napoleon's head ? The light of hope w^ent out. 

The light burst forth an instant when he crowned 
her •'"^'' 



NAPOLEOI^. 63 " 



But it was gone at once, and gone forever ! 

The surest oracles of propliecj are 

Anxious women's eves, and they're infallible. 

Imperial Majesty, beware ! beware ! 

Your arm, my son. We wish to rest a wbile. 

{Exeunt Pius YII. and Fesch. 

Enter Mme. de Rkmusat. 

3[me. de Bern used. 
His Holiness not here : How can I reach him ? 

Enter FoucHi:. 
All, Monsieur Fouche. 

Fouclie. 

Madame de Ec'musat ! 

]\[me. de Brmusat. 
Monsieur Fouche will help me? His Holiness — 
Where could I find him ? I thought that he was 
here. 

Fouche. 

His Holiness receives the Court here shortly. 

Mnie. de Reniusat. 
But before that, Monsieur ? It is important. 

Fouche. 
Doubtless a note would reach him — 



64 NAPOLEON. 



Mine, de Bemusat. 

Monsieur Foiiclie ! 
But how to send it ? 

Foiiche. 

If Madame honours me ! 
{Voices are heard.) 

3Ime. de Bemiisat. 
Then, Monsieur, at once — and not a word ! 
{Glees FoucHE a note.) 

Fouche. 

Trust me ! 

{Exit Mme. de RiMuSxVT. 
{Beads.) 

" The Holy Father : For his own Hands only." 

Indeed ? And from the Empress ! As Minister 

Of the Imperial Police and an old 

Friend, I must see to it that no curious 

Eyes pry into this ! 

{Opens the note and goes toward tJie door.) 

What's this ? What's this ? What's this ? 

{Exit hurried 1 1/. 

Enter M. de Talleyeand, musing. 

T< die y rand. 
H — m ! The servant of the servants of the Lord ! ^' 
He is well housed. If one could manao-e to fret 
Into the service of Ills servant's servant, 



NAPOLEON. 65 



What else could one desire? I was a BisLop •''^ 
Once myself ! I know just bow the hirelings fare. 
But this old man seems most miraculously 
To have somehow caught reflections of the truth, 
And, notwithstanding that he is a Christian, 
Contrives in spite of all to remain honest ! 

Enter Fouche. 

Fouche. 
Monsieur de Talleyrand ! 

Talleijravd. 

Yours, Monsieur Fouche ! 
{Then exchange smiff-hoxes and pass.) 

Fouche. 
{At the door.) 
Monsieur de Talleyrand ! 

Talleyrand. 
{Taming at door.) Yours, Monsieur Fouche ! 

Fouche. 
There will be music — His Holiness is mad. 

Talleiirand. 
Monsieur Fouche is thoughtful. He understands 
How much I CDJoy these Christian harmonies. 
I shall come early. * 



QQ NAPOLEON. 



Fouche. 

Do! The Coronntion 
Is the cantata that will be sung to-night. 

{Exeuht. 

Enter Mme. Murat and Joseph Bonaparte. 

]\lme. Ifirrat. 
Do 3'OU not see that she is playing with ns? 
And that she has Napoleon under her thumb ? 
Such airs! Stars! Pauline and I were bound that we 
AVould drop her train right in the middle of the 
Coronation, and we did ; and how she scowled ! ^•' 
And then Napoleon stormed at us so, rigljt there. 
In Notre Dame, that we picked up the nasty 
Train again, to hide our blushes. I tell you, 
Joseph, this Beauharnais must be got rid of, 
If any of Napoleon's flesh and blood hoj^e 
To get on in this world. And let me tell you. 
The Faculty of Paris has just declared 
That Josephine can never be a mother. 

Joseph. 
Don't look so devilish, Caroline ! Suppose 
That Josephine can never be a mother, 
Though, with all due respect, I have my own doubts 
I cannot, for the life of me, imagine 
Jast why the Faculty and 3'ou should chuckle ! 

Mme. Murat. 
Joseph, you are no poli^cian. Look you ! 



NAPOLEON. 67 



Napoleon must Lave somebody, I fancy, 
To wliom to leave liis crown. 

Joseph. 

All tliat is settled. 

Mme. 3Iurat. 
Oh, yes, I know. But how ? Why, you yourself have 
Told me, that all this talk about your children, 
iLiid Louis's, succeediug him, is balderdash.''^ 
No ! No ! There will be no more coronations 
In our family, Joseph, unless an heir 
Direct turns up. 

Joseph. 
And this the Faculty and 
All of you gossips have formally declared 
To be highly improbable ? 



Mme. 3Iurat. 

Impossible ! 



Worse yet ! W^ell, then, have you as yet decided 

Enter Fouchk, quietly. 
What you pro20ose to do ? 

Mme. Murat. 

Divorce Josephine ! 

louche. 
Treason, so soon ? 



68 NAPOLEON. 



Joseph. 
No, Monsieur Fouclio, gossip ! 

Fouche. 
There is no difference between tliem, except 
That treason is sometimes merciful to souls. 

Josepli. 
Whereas — 

Mme. Murat. 
Whereas ! Whereas ! Don't listen to him ! 

Joseph. 
I leave you, then, Madame. Ha ! ha ! I pity 
You, Monsieur. {Exit. 

Fuuche. 
(Eagerly.) 

Read this and tell me what you think. 

Mine. Mured. 

What is it ? 

Fouche. 
Read it ! Read it ! 

Mme. Murat. 

From Josephine ? 

Fouche. 
Aye, from the Empress and to His Holiness. 



NAPOLEON. 60 



3Ime. Murat. 
How caiDe 3'ou bj it ? 

Fouche. 

All sorts of offices 
Are being created. They have appointed me 
The Grand High Secret Bearer of billets-doux! 

3Imc. Bhirat. 
By whom appointed ? 

Fouche. 
Madame de Bemusat ! 

Alme. Murat. 
She gave you this? 

Fouche. 
Implored me to convey it, 

Mme. Murat. 
She is a bigger fool than I supposed her. 

Fouche. 
But what a kind fool ! Bead the note, and say so. 

Mine. 31 u rat. 
{Beads the note.) 
" The Empress humbly imi3lores His Holiness 
To graciousW elucidate a weighty 
Matter which much disturbs her. The Emperor 



70 NAPOLEON. 



Has been advised, by some malicious person, 
That, as the parish priest was absent from our'^^ 
Marriage, according to the laws of Holy 
Church, no less than those of France, the lawfulness 
Of the said marriage might be called in question." 

• • ^ • • • 

Monsieur Fouche ! If this be true, we— 

Fouch<i. 

Read on ! 
Mine. Marat. 
"The eagerness and the great firmness with wliich 
Your Holiness insisted that our marriage 
Must take place before Your Holiness would deign 
To countenance and bless our coronation. "''- 

What's this, Monsieur Fouche? When was she 
married ? 

Fouc]i<\ 
Last night ! ''-^ 

Mine. ]\[arat. 
And where, pray ? 

Foache. 

Here, in the Tuileries ! 



3Inie. Marat. 
By whom, in heaven's name ? 



But read, read, read ! 



Foache. 

By Cardinal Fesch ! 



NAPOLEON. 



Mine. Marat. 

Is slie not deep ! Where was I ? 
[Reads again.) 
" The eagerness and the great firmness with wliich 
Your Holiness insisted that our marriage 
Must take place before Your Holiness would deign 
To countenance and bless our coronation — 
Gives me the greater boldness to expect, 
That this apparent invalidity 
Will, by the Sov'reign Pontiff's own decision, 
Be shown to be apparent only, and in 
No wise a nullifying or a fatal flaw. 
The Emperor has been so wrought upon by 
Certain persons whose influence and malice 
Are alike so unbounded, that I am filled 
With apprehensions for the future. Father, 
Be gracious ! Maintain the holy dignity 
Of that which was in every point ordered 
By thy supreme authority itself, and 
Is a broken-hearted woman's only hope. 
Pronounce my marriage now indissoluble ! 
To-night, when all my enemies are gathered, 
And when the Emperor and I are seated, 
And when thy words, so publicly delivered, 
Can never in the future be denied, speak ! 
To-morrow it will be too late. To-nighl, speak ! " 



[Crushes the letter.) 
Malediction ! 



NAPOLEON. 



Fouche. 
Don't swear, Madame. Do yon not 
See, that as His Holiness will not declare 
Any such tiling, and we liave got possession 
Of this dear quibble of technicality 
To work with now, we can afford to let the 
Empress swear, saving onr own account that much ? 

Mme. Murat. 
But why will not His Holiness speak out ? 

Fouche. 
Wh}^ for the simple reason, don't you see, that he 
Has not received this letter — 

Mme. Alurat. 

You will not dare — 

Fouche. 
To keep it, or destroy it ? No, Madame, no ! 
His Holiness will get it. Yes! — to-morrow. 

3Ime. Murat. 
And then, the irregularity, Monsieur : 
You think the absence of the parish priest will 
Be enough to void the marriage really ? 

Fouche. 
Madame, it does not take so much in these days 
To unlock wedlock ! There, they are coming now. 



NAPOLEON. 73 



Enter Caulaincouet, numerous ushers, attendants, and 
officers in uniform. Arrangements for the ap- 
proach of the Court. 

{Exeunt Fouche and Mme. Mukat. 

Caulaincourt. 

Advise the Emperor that all is read3\ 

[Exeunt Officers. 
(The Emperor's approach is annouyiced siicces- 
sively by ushers stationed without. The Im- 
perial March is ployed.) 

A Chamberlain. 
(At the door.) 
The Emperor. 

Several Courtiers. 
Tiie Emperor ! Make way there ! 

Enter the immediate members of the Court: Talley- 
rand, Fouche, Marshals Macdonald and Ney, 
Joseph Bonaparte, Yvan, Courtiers, Josephine 
attended by Mmes. Murat, de Eemusat, Hortense, 
etc., etc. Ladies-in-imiting, in stately procesnon. 
Last of all, Napoleon, in the magnificent corona- 
tion robes ; he ascends the throne and sits,^^ at- 
tended by pages in green and lace.) 

Napoleon. 
His Holiness proves none too hospitable. 
Somebody there, advise him that we are come. 



NAPOLEON. 



Are not his ill- concealed rebukes in private 
Enough, but we must suffer them in public? 

Enter Cardinal Fesch. 

Fesch. 
The Holy Father being much fatigued ^^ 

Napoleon. 

Keeps 
The Coart waiting? Uncle, this is too much ! 



Pray, 



Jose2:)liine. 

Bonaparte, be patient. His Holiness has 
Earned our everlasting gratitude to-day.''*' 

Fesch. 
The Holy Father comes immediately. 

An Usher. 
Way for His Holiness, Pope Pius Seventh! 



Enter Pius VH. clad in simple lohite cassoch'''^ and 
ivithout ceremony or attendants. All, save Napo- 
leon, kneel for his blessing. He goes to his 
titrone. 

Napoleon. 

Your Holiness w^as not advised, it seems, of 
Oar consent to make our first imperial 
Visit one which would prove our deep devotion 
To His sacred person ? 



NAPOLEON. 75 



Pius VIL 

Nay, we were indeed 
Advised of Your Imperial Majesties' 
Most laudable intention of piously 
Accepting our earnest prayers to honour 
Us, before the Avorld, in this first reception. 
We more than welcome you, dear royal children, 
And lovingly bestow upon you jointly 
The xlpostolic Benediction. 

Joi^epliinc. 

Amen ! 

Napoleon. 
With which we now proceed to the important 
Ceremonies which demand our presence — 
{Pases.) 

Josephine. 

What ! 
You will not withdraw without the benefit 
Of hearing from himself those venerable 
Counsels which have been promised to us by the 
Holy Father? 

Pius VIL 
If it be possible, we 
Most humbly beg that our dear son bear with us 
Wliile, at this august time, we inculcate those 
Principles which can alone secure to him 
And to his throne a lasting benediction. 



NAPOLEON. 



Napoleon. 
{Sitting again.) 
So be it then ; but it were scarceh^ fitting 
That we be catechized in public — 

Fouclie. 
(Aside to Talleyrand.) Now watch ! 

Talleijraiid. 
I pit}' the old man — I was a bishop. 

Pius VIL 
And much less fitting was it, certainly, that"^^ 
In the eyes of all the world, and at a time 
Which history will take to the remotest 
Ages, we should have suffered open insult 
At those hands which we had journied and endured 
Unusual hardships, to uplift and bless ! 

Na2:)oleon. 
[Looking about appealingly.) 
^Yhat does he mean? 

Josephine. 
(Quietly to Napoleon.) 

He means the Coronation. 

Napoleon. 
YoLU' Holiness has reference to to-day? 



NAPOLEON. 77 



Pius Vll. 
Ave ! To the fact that at the sacred moment 
Of his coronation, before God's altar, 
In presence of the Holy Gospels, and of 
The world, the Emperor proved false, vv'antonly 
Broke his oath, and added sacrilege to his — ^'^ 

Napoleon. 
By Heaven ! I cannot brook such — 

Josephine. 
{Grasping Napoleon's arm.) For God's sake! 

Fesch. 
{To the Pope.) 
Anger him not, Your Holiness. 



Talleyrand. 



Mine. J}[urat. 



Pray do not 



{Aside to FoucHE.) 
Do keep them at it— 'twill help, Monsieur Fouche. 

Napoleon. 
Have we not turned the very wheels of custom ''^ 
Back over centuries, and startled all the 
World, by resurrecting from oblivion 
This ancient papal privilege of crowning 
Kin«vs? What other monarch in live hundred years 



78 NAPOLEON. 



Has similarly honoured ^Ybat other Pope? 
The FishermaD, forgotten, ignored, despised, 
MambUug his offices beside the Tiber, 
Migbt never have been heard of in his old rule 
Of the dispenser of all earthly crowns, had 
Not we ourself, out of our filial love, 
Invited him to grace our coronation ! 
Is it for tbis most singular and touching- 
Mark of our devotion, that we are taunted 
With a breach of faith ? 

Pius VII. 

It was upon the most 
Sincere and solemn protestations of Your 
Majesty, that God had put it in your heart 
To make tbis tardy recognition of the 
Most ancient privileges and dignities 
Of Peter's See, that we, alas ! consented, 
Not, as you snj, to grace a coronation, 
But to confer a crown. '^ 

Talleyrand. 
{To FoucHE.) Tbat is deHcious ! 

It makes one feel a thousand vears cf age. 

Nu}joleon. 

Well ? 
If there were, then, some slight misunderstanding, 
As to tbe trifling point of just who crowned us, 
We beg Your Holiness will overlook it. 



NAPOLEON. 



Monsieur de Talleja'and, you were the master '^ 

Of the ceremouies : was it, or was it 

Not intended, that we should crow^n ourself ? Come. 

Talleyrand. 
Sire, it was this w\ay phxnned. It was decided, 
After most careful study of all ancient ''^ 
Ritualists, that after the blessing of 
The crown it must be placed upon your head by 
No one but His Holiness himself. 

Pius VII. 

Else, how 



Napoleon. 
Then it was ill-arranged. See that it be not 
So arranged again. 

Pius VIL 
{To Fesch.) He mocks us, Cardinal. 

Napoleon. 
Banish these clouds of mere misunderstanding, 
And in the minutes which we happily can 
Be the guests and dutiful attendants of 
Your Holiness, bestow upon our new-born 
Dynasty the blessings of yonr counsels. 

Pius VIL 

Well, 
Take an old man's blessing, and without further 
Words, hasten to give the populace who crowd 



80 NAFOLEON. 



The palace courts, the wished-for presence of their 
Emjoeror. Cardinal, lend us your arm. 
(Begins to tvithdraw.) 

Josephine. 
(Starting up.) 
But, will the Holy Father not first grant the 
Most devoted of his children's earnest wish ? 

Fins VIL 
Our daughter would have something at our hands ? 

Josephine. 

Yes, 
Holy Father, from my soul I beg it now. 

Fins VIL 
And we shall grant it, daughter — what is it ? 

Mme. Marat, 

(To FOUCHE.) 

Can you not stop this in some way — and quieidy ? 

J ouch e. 
Sh-h ! Sh-h ! 



Josephine. 



Your Holiness has not forgotten ? 



3[me. llurat. 
(To FoUCHE.) 

Don't be a coward ! Stop her before- 



NAPOLEON. 81 



Fouche. 

Sli-li ! Sh-h ! 

Josephine. 

We begged that at this hour Your Holiness woukl 
Graciously consent to ask His Majesty 
To wreathe about our diadem the laurel 
Of his love, by formally pronouncing his 
Complete accord with the decision of Your- 
Holiness upon a certain vitally 
Important point. 

{The Pope is confused, hut tries to recall the point 
and reseats himself.) 

Wherefore, we shall withdraw in 
Order that Your Holiness may with perfect 
Freedom elucidate the sacred question. 

Napoleon, 

We like not all this mystery. 

Josephine. 

{Fiisincj and going toward door.) 

But trust us ! 
Come, Mesdames, all of you, attend us. Adieu ! 

(Exeunt all the ladies. Mme. Murat scowls at 
Fouche as she j^asses, who signals reassur- 
ance to her.) 



S3 NAPOLEON. 



Napoleon. 
We have not certainly so grudgingly in 
All these years granted our wife's petitions, that 
She must needs employ the intercessions of 
Another. But she has chosen well indeed. 
We grant it, be it what it may : What is it ? 

Pius VIL 
III truth the ceremonies of this great day 
Have so fatigued us, that we cannot recall 
Just what it is that our dear daughter wishes.'^ 

Napoleon. 
Ha ! ha ! ha ! ha ! Since we have granted it, we 
Have no doubt that our imperial wife 
Will readily forgive that. 

Plus VIL 

Her manner seemed 
To give the question grave importance in her 
Eyes, and it much grieves us that we cannot speak 
We beg that word be instantly brought hither 
From our dear child to this intent. 

Napoleon. 

To-morrow. 

Pins VIL 
She seemed to feel that it must be done now. 



NAPOLEON. 83 



Fouche. 

Sire. 

Napoleon. 



Monsieur Foucbe. 



Fouche. 
If it were not considered 
Too imj)ertinent, I might suggest tliat what 
Was evidently weighing upon the mind 
Of Her Imperial Majesty was her 
Solicitude over the j)romised pardons."*^ 

Plus VII. 
True ! True ! Of course, of course ! We have that 

surest 
Warning of old age — decay of memory. 
Your Majesty, this morning we were implored 
By our beloved and most Christian daughter, 
To beg from your august and charitable 
Heart the pardon of all prisoners of state. 

Napoleo7i. 
Granted by all means — of course with such reserve 
As shall be found to be quite necessary 
For our imperial policy. 

Many Voices. 



84 NAPOLEON, 



Napoleon. 
And now to the festivities whicli wait us ! 

{lie rises and all proceed to ivithdraw. Immedi- 
alehj behind Napoleon, at the end of the pro- 
cession, walks the Pope. Exeunt Omnes, l. 

Enter Mme. Murat at r., caidioushj. 

3lme. 3Iurat. 

Ha ! lia ! ha ! ha ! ha ! ha ! ha ! ha ! ha ! ha ! ha ! 

{Exit L. 



Curtain. 



ACT II. 

HlGH-NOON AND AfTEK. — 1S07. 



ACT II. 

Scene 1.— .4 room in Finkendein Gustlc, at niyhO^ 

Discovered— KusTAN asleep upon the floor in front 
of a huge luood-fire/'^ Const.\nt examining 
Napoleon's unopened mail. Tables, ete., etc. 

{The Caslle hell tolls midnight slowly, and Rus- 
TAN turns and mutters in his sleep.) 

Constant. 
Midnight ! Rustan, where did the Emperor go ? 

(Looks over the letters curiously/.) 
Kastan, I say— where did the Emperor go? 
How that dog sleeps !— The last trump will not wake 

him, 
Unless the Emperor lies in the next grave, 
And he suspects that the Archangel's feelings 
Are not entirely friendly to his master. 
Rustan, I say ! There ! 

{Fires his 2:)istoL) 

He does not turn a hair. 

Oh! well! 

{Looks at letters.) 

Ah ! this one is from Monsieur Fouche. 
He must not read it till he has had at least 



88 NAPOLEON. 



Three cups of coffee. Monsieur de TalleyraiKl ! 
Monsieur de Talleyrand would best wait also. 
Monsieur de Talleyrand lias fall'n into the 
Habit latel}^ of writing something so near 
The truth, that neither the Emperor nor I 
Enjoy it. Best sleep on 3^ou, my Tallej^-and ! 
Ah ! One from Josephine ! Two ! Three ! Jeal- 
ousy. 
Would one hear from his wife, let it be rumoured 
That — but never mind ! This one I can't make out. 
It smells ! ah sweet ! Josephine must have snielled 

it. 
If he is cross and hungry, he shall read that 
First. This one is from Monsieur 

Ilu^tan. 
{Starting up.) Who's there ? Who's there ? 

Condant. 
Nobody, Rustan ? 

Ruatan. 

There is. I heard a stej). 

Constant. 
Did you, indeed? Did you not hear a pistol, 
And talking, and 



Piustcw. 

Rustau hears onl}' danger : 
Rustan is sure he heard a woman's footstep ! 
(Creeps to the door to listen.) 



NAPOLEON. 89 



Constant. 
Rustan has a discriminating ear, then ! 
Danger, indeed ! Ha ! ha ! A woman's footstep ! 

She is upon the stairs ; she has reached the top ; 
She comes this way ! Rustan is very cunning. 
Rustan knows how. Rustan will cut her tongue out. 

Coni<tant. 
And so, of course, avoid all of the danger. 

[A knock /« heard.) 
Back to yonr kennel, dog ! I will receive her. 
Who knocks? {Silence.) 

Who knocks? Rustan, be quiet ! Who knocks? 



Mme. Waltwaka. 
[From ivWiout.) 
One whom the Emperor's command has brought 
here.'^ 

Rustan. 
Rustan knows danger : he knew it was a she. 

Conatant. 
The hour is late. Madame will pardon caution ? 
Would Madame write her name upou this paper ? 

[Slips a sheet of paper under the door.) (Aside.) 
Now we shall see who wrote this scented letter. 

[Takes up the scoded note from tJie table. The 
sheet of paper is pushed hack under the door. 
Reads.) 



90 NAPOLEON. 



" Marie, Countess Walewska, obediently." 
{Aside.) 

All ! ha ! The same ! I knew that something fe- 
male 

Was in his mind when I began to dress him. 

Madame ! 
{Aloud.) 

Mine. Waleivska. 
Yes ! O^oen instantly ! 



Constant. 
Looked for by His Imperial Majest}' ? 



Is madam e 



3Ime. Waleivska. 
He sent three members of his staff to -fetch me. 

Constant. 
Will Madame enter ? Madame's most humble slave ! 

Enter Mme. Walewska, muffled, veiled, and covered 
ivith snow. 

Will Madame permit me to assist her ? No ? 

3Ime. Waleivska. 
The Emperor's private room : which way ? He 

wished 
Me to proceed to it immediately. 



NAPOLEON. 91 



Constant. 
This way, if Madame pleases. Eustan, make way ! 
{Exit Mme. Walewska into Napoleon's room. 
Our little friend from Warsaw, I dare wager ! 
No wonder that Lie drank twelve cups of coffee, 
Etiined three razors and made me cut him twice ; " 

Called Marshal Soult a something not very nice, 

And kept his aides-de-camp about half crazy 
Commanding and then countermanding blunders ! ^^ 
These women I Oh ! these women ! Now, as for 

me — ■ 

[Having 7'eturned, and looking at the letters.) 
What? One for me? Eh! From Paris ? From 

Babette ! 

(Tears it open, and dances about with joy.) 
How's this ? She's coming here, and she is on her 

way ! 
Great heavens ! She may arrive at any hour ! 
If she should come at night ! This night ! Oh ! 

women ! 

Rustan. 

{Starting up from sleep.) 
Rustan hears danger. 

Constant. 
Not again ? Horrible ! 
(Rustan listens and then falls asleep again.) 
Thank heaven ! He w^as mistaken ! Oh, these 
women ! 
{Sits and continues to look over the letters.) 



92 NAPOLEON. 



More from the Empress ? Who has been telling her ? 

No one, perhaps, for jealousy has instincts. 

At any rate, I never have to advise 

Madame Constant: she knows! Oh! doesn't she ? 

Hark ! 

(Napoleon's voice heard without.) 

Enter 1^ kvoiJE.0^ rcqndly, covered with snow. Kustan 
does not awake. 

Napoleon. 
Coffee, Constant ! Eiistan, inquire who is the 
Aide-de-camp ! Constant, what are you leaving 

for? 81 

(Constant returns.) {Exit Kustan. 

. Constant. 
For coiiee, Sire. 

Napoleon. 
Do you intend to leave me 
Standing, soaked through ? You blockhead ! Where 
is Rustan ? 

(Napoleon moves about while Constant tries to 
remove his coat.) 

Constant. 
Rastan has gone to inquire what aide-de-camp — 

Napoleon. 
What are you trying to do to me. Constant ? 



NAPOLEON. 93 



Condant. 
(Aside.) 
I never saw Lim quite so bad. Ob, women ! 

(Napoleon sHs by the table and begins to look ovei- 
the papers, etc. Stretches out his hand at 
side several times.) 

Napoleon. 
WliY, in tlie fiend's name, don't you give it to me? 

Constant. 
Give YOU what. Sire ! 



Napoleon. 
My coffee ! What time is it ? 

Constant. . 



Past midnight, Sire. 



Napoleon. 
So late ? Then go and see if 
The Division Officers have not come in. 

Co7istant. 
The coffee. Sire ? 

Napoleon. 
Yes, give it to me, Constant ! 

Constant. 
Shall I cvo fetch it first ? 



94 NAPOLEON. 



Napoleon. 

Have you not fetclied it ? 
Go, blockhead ! The smipleton must be iu love. 

[Exit Constant. Napoleon looks at letters. 

Re-enter Constant with the coffee. 

Well, well, who is the aide-de-camp on duty? 

Constant. 

{Arranges coffee near the fire. Napoleon sits to 
drink.) 
I went for coffee, Sire : it was Rustan that — 

Napoleon. 
True, true, my good Constant. 

Constant. 
(Aside.) The smell of coffee 

Is my best friend. Just hear him : " My good Con- 
stant ! " 
(Napoleon muses and sips coff^ee.) 

Napoleon. 
Constant ! 

Constant. 
Here, Sire. 

Napoleon. 
The courier brought letters ? 



NAPOLEON, 95 



Gon^lant. 
All these, Sire. Shall I read? Four from the 
Empress. 

Naiioleon. 
Four ! sa}' you? Oh ! yes, I was expectiug — four ! 

That's true ! Or forty, for that matter 



Napoleon. 

And? Ami? 

Constant. 
And one from — from, from — Warsaw, I should 
think, Sire. 

Na'poleon. 
Eh ! Warsaw ? Why do you say from Warsaw, eh ? ^^ 

Goniitant. 

[Carries letter to liim.) 
B3' — by — the perfume of it, Sire. I never 
Smelt anything like it — except in W^arsaw. 

(Napoleon reads the note.) 

Napoleon. 
{After musing a moment.) 
Constant, a lady may arrive at any time. 
An elderly dependent on our charity. 



9G NAPOLEON. 



Whom we have offered to protect and harbour 

For a while. There ! did yoii hear a step, Constant ? 

GonstaDt. 
No, Sire ! {Aside.) Heavens ! the elderly dependent 
Must be kept quiet, till I can get her out. 

{Returning from the door where he listened.) 
I hear no footstep, Sire. Was she expected ? 

Napoleon. 
At any moment. She must not be allowed 
To be seen here. When she arrives conduct her 
To the apartment hung with cream-white damask' 
Near our own room. Under no circumstances 
Must she go in m}^ room. You understand me ? 

Condant. 
Perfectly, Sire. {Sighs.) 

{Aside.) Why did I not let Eustan 
Kill her at sight? — The dog suspected danger. 

Na2:)oleon. 
Constant, if I mistake not, you always knew — 
Yes, fill it, fill it— two lumps — you always knew 
All of the serving maids about the palace ? 

Constant. 
Sire, not all, not all. I am a married man. 

Napoleon. 
You told me that Madame Constant was jealous. 



NAPOLEON. 97 



ConHtaiit. 
She was, Sire — madly jealous ; but without cause. 

Napoleon. 
Of course, of course ; since you declare that j'ou knew 
Only — how many did you say ? and not all 
Of the pretty girls, it was illogical 
In Madame to be jealous. Well, now, Constant, 
Among the few whom you did know, remember 
You one better than the rest, one more discreet, 
One who could be brought here, and who would see, 

hear. 
Serve, and do as she was bid, and hold her tongue ? 

Constant. 
Sire, I do remember just such a creature. 

Napoleon. 
Her name ? 

Constant. 

Babette Lacouvier, dark eves, red 



Napoleon. 
Never mind, Constant. Write the sonnet later. 
Babette would come here ? Babette would hold her 
tongue ? 

Condant. 
Sire, Babette would come. 

Naiioleon. 

And mind her own affairs ? 



98 NAPOLEON. 



Constant . 
Sire, I have known Babette to remain quiet 
For half an hoar. (Aside.) Asleep ! 

Napoleon. 

Send for her at once ! 
Another cup. What other letters are there ? 

Constant. 
One from Monsieur de Talleyrand. 

Napoleon. 

To-morrow ! 
Constant. 
From Monsieur Fouche. 

Ncfpoleon. 

Day after to-morrow ! 

Constant. 
Four from Her Majesty, the Empress. 

Napoleon. 
(Aside.) Never ! 

Entei' KusTAN, vjho lies down at door. 

Rustan ! Rustan ! Awake the villain, Constant. 

Constant. 
But how, Sire ? 

Napoleon. 
By siege, by— 



NAPOLEON. 99 



Rastan. 
{Starting up.) Rastan hears danger ! 

Constcnit. 
{Aside.) 

Again ? Confound that elderly dependent ! 

{Coughs and stamjjs about.) 

Napoleon. 
Ptustan, found you the aide-de-camp on duty? 

RuHlan. 
Sire, Rustan obeys. Rustan found aide-de-camp — 
On duty? What is that ? No understand, Sire. 
The Monsieur aide-de-mmp was playing . 

Naixjleon. 

Duty ! 
A game, Rustan, which we have taught our soldiers 
So well, that they out-play all others at it ! 
Constant, advise the aide-de-camp that he will 
Go at once to the headquarters of the Prince 
Neufchatel, five leagues away, and be bade here 
Not later than sunrise to-morrow morning. 
He will deliver these despatches to the 
Prince in person. 

{Gives jDQcket.) {Exit Constant. 

And it's a devilish night. 
Our new game, 'Diiiy, is not an easy one ; 



100 NAPOLEON. 



Tliey win who stake gloiy and France upon it ! 

(liusTAN/fl//.s' asleep. Napoleon siU before the fire.) 
Four letters from my Avife ! Wliat have I done nuio ? 
Jnnot informs me that Josephine finds ways^' 
Of getting consolation in my absence. 
The jealousy of women does not depend, 
It seems, so much upon tlieir virtue as their 
Pride. She can become the scandal of the to^Yn, 
And yet write lectures on inconsistency' ! 
Poor Josephine ! Not so poor either ; not when 
One remembers the natural history 
Of jealousy as it is writ in ruin. 

(7//.s'e8 and walks about.) 
The fall of no man is a true fall at all ! 
It is a ruin rather : the long result 
Of battling against odds, and, single hearted, 
Encountering the onslaught of chill distrust. 
No man begins but as a virtuous child . 
Nor dreams of sin until he is charged with it ! 
Man is a man, and by deliberate choice 
Never is less. But into his good heart 
This cursed world flings the pestiferous seeds 
Of unbelief : not unbelief in God, for 
Hell might proclaim itself, and so an end ; 
But unbelief in man ! At Castiglione 
I said to a Lieutenant of Dragoons : " There ! 
Caulaincourt, I wish that battery taken ! 
Take it with twenty men ! " " Geiieral," he said, 
"Two hundred could not ! " "But twenty can," I 
said. 



NAPOLEON. 101 



He took the battery. Before St. Jeaii d'Acre 

There was a dangerous sally-port to close. 

A stripling near my side begged for permission. 

A score cried '"No!" '• Boy, can you do it, think 

you?" 
" General, I can, if 3'ou believe in me ! " 
" I do ! " The boy was mangled into pieces, 
But the port was closed. And it is always thus. 
We desperately grasp at good opinion, 
Which is the Creed men have concerning others, 
And as a rule we do no better and no 
Worse than others say we will. Oh ! Josephine ! 
Oh ! jealousy ! Oh ! women, do ye not know 
That man, being made of confidence and trust, 
Rises or falls as these art meted to him ? 
The bride who sets a watch upon lier husband, 
Has branded him and set a premium on 
Infidelity. Well, what says Josephine? 
{Opens one of the letters.) 

Piiistan. 
Rustan hears danger ! Rustan hears woman's step. 
[A knock is heard.) 

Napoleon. 
It must be Marie ! Open the door, Rustan ! 

J^nter Babette, muffled and agitated, 

Bahette. 
(Throwing off her hood, etc.) 
Sire ! I thought — I was told really — 



102 NAPOLEON. 



Napoleon. 

Babette ! 
How in the name of all the saints came you here ? 

Babette. 
Sire, it was in this way, Sire. Monsieur Constant 
Wrote me that Your Imperial jMajesty 
Had come to Finkenstein and would need servants. 
Monsieur Constant has probably advised Your 
Majesty that I was cruelly discharged 
From the Imperial service — has he — Sire ? 

Ncqjoleon. 
No ! Monsieur Constant never conveys bad news. ^^ 

Babette, 
( Courtesies profou ndbj. ) 
Yes, Sire, discharged ! And all the spiteful doing 
Of Madame Constant. So tlien Monsieur Constant 
Wrote me to come at once to Finkenstein, so — - 

Napoleon. 
So that Madame Constant might feel relieved, eh? 

Babette. 
Oh, no ! Sire, no ! So that I might find service. 
And Monsieur Constant — 

Napoleon. 

Oh ! I see now, Babette : 
So that you might find service and Monsieur— 



NAPOLEON. 103 

Bahetle. 

Sire ! 
Ncqjoleon. 
Pack off to bed, cliild. To-morrow we will see. 
Avoid the corridors : no place for women. 
That is our own room. Pass fchrougli it to the left, 
And yon will find a little private entrance 
Into a fine apartment. Sleep there to-night. 

(Babette courtesies and backs into the room. Exit. 
Rustan ! Eustan ! That dog hears nothing harmless. 

Buslaji. 
(Raising himself on his elbow.) 
Rustan hears danger. Rustan hears women's words. 

Najjoleon. 
Save us from them and make an end of evil. 

Enter Constant. Rustan asleep again. 

Napoleon. 
Constant ! 

Constant. 
Here, Sire ! 

Napoleon. 
Constant, who is in my room ? 

Constant. 
{Aside.) 
That black dog has been telling — 

{Aloud.) Nobody, Sire. 



104 NAPOLEON. 



Napoleon. 
You lie, 3^011 rascal ! CoiDe, now, who is in there ? 

Constant. 
A lady, sire ! 

Napoleon. 
Would you not say she was one ? 

Gondant. 
By all means, Sire. Heaven forbid that I should — 

Napoleon. 
Why did you not confess to me, you scoundrel? 

Constant. 
Confess what, Sire? 

Nfjjoteon. 
About Babette, you booby. 
So you did send for her ? 

Consta^if. 

I will send now, Sire. 

Napoleon, 
Pray do not, Constant. 

Constant. 

I will to-morrow. Sire. 

Na2Joleon. 
Do, and. Monsieur, suj^pose that you now tell us 



NAPOLEON. 105 



Why you admitted Madame in our absence ? 
She had to take the cream-white damask boudoir. 
Now, if the elderly dependent, of whom 
We spoke, should happen to arrive, pray, Monsieur, 
What should we do ? Eh ? 

Constant. 

It would be awkward, Sire. 
(Aside.) 

Heavens ! There is some elderly dependent, then ! 

Sire, I ventured to admit her on the ground 

That it would please your Majesty. 

Ncqjoleon. 

A lover 
Speaks there, so I forgive you. 

Bustan. 
[Starting up.) Eustan hears danger ! 

Na2yoleon. 
(Aside.) 
It is Marie, at last ! 

Covistant. 
(Aside.) 
Babette ! It must be ! 

(A knock is heard at door from Napoleon's room.) 

Napoleon. 
You see, Constant, that she received your letter. 



106 NAPOLEON. 



Constant. 



My letter ! Your Majesty lias been deeeived ! 
Rustaii has told your Majesty a falsehood ! 
Babette is not in there. 

Napoleon. 

Fie ! Fie ! Lothario ! 
Come ! You are not talking to IMadame Constant, 
So you might tell the truth without this blushing ! 

Constant. 
Sire, she was muffled ; Rustan mistook the form. 
Sire, it was not Babette : it was another ! 

Napoleon. 
You shall see, Constant ! 

Constant. 

Your Majesty will see ! 

Napoleon. 
Come in ! Open the door there ! 

Enter Countess Walewska and Babette in light gowns. 

Marie ! 
Constant. 

Babette ! 
(Babette courtesies to the Emperor.) 

Babette. 
Sire, may I be lady's maid to fair Madame? 



NAPOLEON. 107 



Constant. 
[Hnrriedly pusliiiig Babette to door.) 
Sh ! Sh ! Babette ! get out of here ! 

Baljette, 
(At the door,) Sire, may I ? 

[Exeunt Constant and Babette. 

Napoleon. 
'My darkest hours are welcome, for it is then 
Invariabh' that you appear, Marie, 
Come to me, girl. You must be cold aud weary. 
So ! Be warmed, be rested here, upon my heart. 
My letter reached you — 

3Ime. Waleicska, 

Yesterday, Sire, at noon. 

Napoleon. 
And you are here so soon ? — 

3Ime. Walewslca. 

It seemed long ages. 
And I may stop here, Sire, a long, long — ^*' 

Napoleon, 

Always ! 
Mme. Walewska. 
Sire ! 

Najjoleon. 
You have convinced me, child, that happiness 
Consists in being absolutely trusted. 
Look up at me ! Marie, in these two blue eyes 



108 NAPOLEON. 



I fouixl the key to the profound enigma 

Of myself. Life of my soul ! Look up at me ! 

Count up the elementals of which your heart 

Is made. Love free from jealousj'. Confidence 

Calling for no more j^roof than is consistent 

With its own sweet self. The giving of oneself 

For no return, no calculated quid pro 

Quo ; but for the sheer delight of worshipping : 

Wide, holy, generosity of judgment, 

Which is blind purposely, appealing ever 

From Philip in his cups, to Philip sober. 

A deep, pure, tranquil, and unmerited love ! 

Wrap that about the chaos of a broken 

Heart, and it becomes transfigured into peace. 

To thoughts of such love a man will stretch his arms 

Oat from the darkness, the passion, and the pain. 

Marie, the night is dark and cold : Sing to me ! 

Mme. Waleivska. 
[Fetches her late: sits at his feet.) 
What shall I sing. Sire? 

Napoleon. 
Sing what you sang that night. 

3rme. Waleivska. 
(Sings,) 

I. 
Out of the North !^^ 
Oat from the cold and the bleak desolation ; 
Oat from the deathly chill haunts of despair ; 



NAPOLEON'. 109 



Oat from the echoes of dead consolation ; 

Out of the North ! 
From the terrible sea ; 
From the hungry wolf's yelp ; 
For a chance to be free, 
For the sunlight and help ! 

Flee from the North! 

II. 

Ldo the South ! 
Iido the garden-nooks loarm joys concealing ; 
Into the scent-laden bowers of Lore ; 
Into tJie exquisite rapture of feeling ; 
Into the South! 
For the hum of the bee ; 
For the long afternoon ; 
For what lovers can see 
By the light of the moon ! 
Flee to the South ! 

[Here Napoleon rises and imlks about. At the 
table he picks up Josephine's letters, and re- 
turns to the fireplace holding them in his 
hands.) 

Napoleon. 
Don't stop, Marie, please. 

Mme. Walewsha. 

What letters are those, Sire ? 



110 NAPOLEON. 



Ncfpoleon. 
Unhappy ones — but sing ! 

Mme. WaleioHka. 

You have not read them, Sire ? 

Napoleon. 
Not yet, not yet. Forget them, Sweet, and sing, sing. 

Mme. Waleiuska. 
(Sings). 

III. 

f (f fro m yourself ! 
Out from the past with its wrecks and contrition ; 
Out from the dull discontentment of now ; 
Out from the future's false-speaking ambition ; 
Out from yourself. 
For your broken -heart's rest ; 
For the peace ivhich you crave ; 
For the end of your quest ; 
For the love wJiich can save ! 
Come ! Come to me I 

(Napoleon throws the letters into the fire unread.)^'^ 

Napoleon. 
{Muses lung.) 
Marie !— Out from myself? 

Mme. Walewska. 

Sire, to me I to me ! 



NAPOLEON. Ill 



Napoleon. 
{Taking her in his arms.) 
Do not sing any more to-night. Let ns be 
Quiet now and watch the fire burn out. 



3Inie. Waleicska. 
{TJiey stand and watch.) 

Curtain. 



Yes, Sire ! 



Scene 2. — A terrace of Fontainebleau. Afternoov.^^ 

Discovered — Hoetense and Madame de Rkmusat sif- 
ting upon a garden seat. Back of the stone balus- 
trade of the terrace groujjs of Courtiers and Ladies 
pass and repass. 

Hortense. 
Alas ! Madame de Remusat, I cannot. 
You say that he is at the zenith of his 
Power. He has come back to France a hero, 
And one might almost say, he is almighty. 
They will fawn upon him ; kiss his very feet ; 
Fouche and Talleyrand will vie with Murat 
In offering incense. Bah ! I know them all ! 
No, no, Madame de Remusat, I cannot 
Blind my eyes to what is pnssing. Napoleon 
Is a miserable man. 



112 NAPOLEON. 



Mme. de Remusat. 

You mean unhappy? 

Iloriense. 
I do, Madame de Rjmasat. And for the 
Reason, that he no longer loves my mother. 

3fme. de Bemumt. 
An enemy has done this. All will soon bs 
Explained, and love will then return upon the 
Wings of confidence.'-"^ 

Hortense. 
Madame de Remusat, 
Love often dies after the marriage service ; ''^ 
But did you ever hear that any woman 
Was loved a second time by the same lover? 

lifme. de Remusat. 
Forgive me, dear Hortense, your Majesty sees 
Everything through the discolouring glass 
Of your own sorrow. You have confided in 
Me as your friend. Your life is wretched. Your 

child ''' 

Is dead. Your husband ^^ 

Hortense. 
Spare me, for God's sake, Claire ! 

3Ime. de Remusat. 
Yes ! yes ! forgive me ! But will you not at least 
Try to persuade the Emperor to listen ? 



NAPOLEON. 113 



Hortenae. 
I talked ^vitb him about two hours this morniuo-. 

o 

The same old stoiT ! He reverences me'-*^ 
Above all women, and even as a child, 
AVould listen to my arguments with patience. 
My influence became so great, you know, that 
Gossip soon was whispering — you know^, you knov.' ! '-'•' 
Well, for two hours he listened with all j^atience ; 
But, Claire, dear, no logic ever yet forced love. 

Mme. de Bemusat. 
Madame Marat has been insinuating. 
That at the bottom of the difficulty 

There is a- 

Hortense. 

Woman ? No very deep guess, that ! 
There is a won^an in the cas'e — certainh' ! 

Mme. de liemusat. 
There have been others of whom he has grown tired, "*^ 
And come back from, to the forgiving Emj^ress ! 

Hortensa. 
Yes, for they were passing fancies ; but this one 
Is the only woman whom he ever loved.'*' 

Mme. de Remusat. 
He will not brin^' her here ? 



Hortense. 

She is here now, Claire ! 



Ill NAPOLEON. 



Enter Napoleon, rapidb/. 

Napoleon. 
01i ! here yoii are ! I bfive been looldiig for von. 
What, in the devil's name, Hortense, has happened? 
I have filled Fontainebleau "with half of Paris : 
I have invited all my friends and neighbours ; 
I have provided music, entertainment, 
Games ; I have laid by the starch and dignity 
Of Emperor, in liope of being simply host. 
And now, -what happens? You hang about in groups, 
You whisper, you act as if you all were at 
My funeral. This is the celebration 
Of my victories, and not my funeral ! ^'^ 

ffoi'tense. 
{Seeing Josephine about to ^^as's outside the ter- 
'Vace.) 
Sire, upon the face of her who is about 
To pass, you niight discover the true reason. 
(Josephine pcy&'.ses sloidy, musing.) 

Napoleon. 
Josephine ! I felt as much ! Hortense, wake up. 
(Bans out of the terTace : joins Josephine.) 

(Exeunt Napoleon and Josephine. 

Ho7'tense. 
We really must do something to wake things up. 

{Exeunt Hortense and Mme. de RAmusat. 



NAPOLEON. 115 



Enter Fouch^ and Mme. Murat. Tliry cross. 

Fouche. 
You say that 3'ou are certain that lie has brougbt 
Oar pretty Polish sweetheart to Fontaiiiebleau ? 

Muie. Marat. 
Most certainly, I do. And now the question ^^^ 
Is, how to arrange to have the dear thing and 
The Empress brought face to face. Won't Josephine 
Enjoy it? 

FoiLclie. 

Immensely ! but, how in the world 
Can it be brought about? Louis the Fourteenth 
Was one thing — Napoleon is another.'^^ 

3Ime. Murat. 

True !— 
But from all accounts, this new divinit}^ 
Does not propose to be shut up in boudoirs 
All her life. 

Fouche. 

So much the better. Well, Madame, 
Find out this beauty, then, and use her, use her! 

{Exeunt Fouche and Mme. Murat. 

Enter Joseph Bonaparte and numerous Ladles and 
Gentlemen, ivho cross, chatting and laugJdng. 

Joseph. 
The Emperor most graciously invites you 



UG NAPOLEON. 



All to join liiin in the theatre at once. 

The music has arrived and the performance 

Will be begun the moment that the guests have 

{Exeunt omnes. 

Enter Napoleon, drim)>g another group of courtiers 
ahead of him and followed by Talleyrand. 

Napoleon. 
Pass on ! Pass on ! No more of this dejection ! 
The theatre waits you, friends. The play begins. 
Monsieur de Talleyrand, a word with you, please. 
[Exeunt omnes except Napoleon a7id Talleyrand. 

Talleyrand. 
Sire, there is no master of ceremonies 
Like yourself. 

Napoleon. 

Perhaps ! Ordering fools about 
Came naturally to me. Nov/, Talleyrand, 
Prove yourself capable of ruling one fool. 

Talleyrand, 

Wiio, Sire ? 
Napoleon. 
Yourself! You have been talking to the Empress? 

Talleyrand. 
Upon my honouj", Sire, I have. What of it ? 

Napoleon. 
This, that she dreams of nothing but of divorce ! 



NAPOLEON. 117 



Divorce, Sire ? 



Talleyrand. 



Nci]joleo)i. 
Divorce ! Talks of it in her sleep. 
Now, Talleyrand, have you turned priest again, that 
You must carry tales of our iniquities 
To the already quite too jealous Empress ? 
Eh ? Hypocrite ? Say, do you go straight from the 
Embraces of your own kept mistresses to ^^^ 
Prate of our shortcomings to our poor Empress ? 

TaUeyrand. 
Sire I You paralyze me with amazement. Sire ! 

Napoleon. 
If it be possible for you to tell the 
Truth, tell it this once in expiation of 
Your lifelong lying. ^03 The Etnpress has been told 
That we have brought a certain noble lady 
To Fontainebleau, and it has so inflamed her 
Jealousy, that at this very sunnnit of 
Onr glory she is about to seek divorce ! 

Talleyrand. 
Ah !— ha ! 

(Long pondering.) 

Napoleon. 
Well? What do you see in it so deep ? 



NAPOLEON. 



Talleyrand. 
Sire, two things ! I see Monsieur Fouche, I see 
Madame Murat. 

NapoleGii. 
Tliey have been telling, have they ? 

T<(lleyrand. 
Sire, the Empress seeks no divorce. Alas ! she 
Fears one. I see the meaning of all this now ! 

Napoleon. 
Then, have the goodness to unfold it to us. 

Talleyrand. 
Sire, Monsieur Fouche is stirring up the old 
Design of the Imperial divorce, for — 

Napoleo)K 
— For some unfathomable purpose, doubtless. 

Talleyrand. 
— Suggested to him by Her Imperial 
Highness, Madame Murat. ^'^'^ At all events, this 
Is quite clear — what now disturbs the Empress 

Napoleon, 



Is 

Not our passion for the noble Countess, eh ? 
But these maliciously suggested rumours 
Of a divorce ? This comforts me. Talleyrand, 
Find out the Countess now, and personally 



NAPOLEON. 119 



Become responsible that slie does not for 
An}^ reason appear to-day. And lnean^vlu!e 
Send the Empress to ns. 

Tallei/nmJ. 

She will come gladly. 

{Exit. 

Enter Caulaincourt, Hortense, Mme. de Ekmusat, 
Ladies, Joseph Bonaparte, Macdonald, Ney, OJ/i- 
cers, etc., etc. 

Nupoleoi). 

So at last you have decided to enjoy 

Yourselves? To prove it, you shall dance before us. 

Hortense, we trust your Majesty will honour 

Us? Caulaincourt, bid {\\q musicians yonder 

Play the new quadrille brought recently from Spain. 

That Andalusian music is as sweet 

To me as my wife's voice — and what is sweeter ? "'•' 
{The music beg ins: the;/ dance.) 

Napoleon. 
{Duinng a paiise.) 
Macdonald, take our place. You've done so often. 

Macdonald. 
Never before, Sire, one-half so willingly. 
Your Majesty accepts the substitute ? 

LLortensc. 

With 
Genuine pleasure, may it please your Grace, but 



120 NAPOLEON. 



I expect that her Imperial Majesty, 
My mother, is coming with Monsieur Foiicho, 
And I must be excused when she has reached us, 
As she desires my service. Until then — 3'ours ! 

(They dance. Napoleon loatclies. During the 
dancinr/ Fouche a?i<i Josephine cross and re- 
cross beyond the haluslrade, talking ear- 
nestly.) 

Napoleon. 

We thank you, friends, for showing us that France 

is 
Not insensible to glory. Believe us, 
Since our return to Paris, after a year 
Of war uninterruptedly successful. 
And whereby France was made the arbitress of all 
The world, we have not heard or seen the slightest 
Token of true joy — till now. We thank you all ! 

Josephine. 

[From beyond the prnx/jjet.) 
A wager has been laid, Sire, on your answers. 
Answer me now instinctively, and without 
Study. What woman love you most. Sire ? 

Napoleon. 

My wife ! '^ 
-Fouche. 
In explanation, Sire, I 



NAPOLEON. . 121. 



Josephine. 

Don't interrnpt ! 
What woman, Sire, do you esteem the highest ? 

Napoleon. 
The best house-keeper. Because 

Josephine. 

Never mind why. 
And whom do you place first among all women ? 

Napoleon. 
She who bears children to her 



(Josephine screams and exit.) 

Monsieur Fonche, 
Is this a time for harping upon that string ? 
Cannot we snatch one hour of quiet pleasure, 
But you, yes, all of you, harass, torment us ? 
Go, Caulaincourt, and find the Empress for us. 
The rest enjoy yourselves — not in our presence ! 

(ExeiDit Omnes, except Napoleon.) 

Call no man happy till he is in his grave ! ^^^' 
I wanted Europe : Euroj^e is at my feet ! 
And what is at my feet ? A mole-hill — Europe ! ^^^ 
I wanted men to fear me, bow to my will. 
Bah ! they would cringe about me anyhow ! For '^ 
Only good kings are not served. A good king- 
is a "0 



122 NAPOLEON. 



King ^Yllo is ruined. But against me Destiny 
Suffers no opposition to avail. And 
Yet what am I ? A superstitious coward, 
Who dares not put away a wife he loves not ! 
And who cannot forget the exiled Bourbons ; ^^^ 
Who cannot break God's laws with a light con- 
science ! 
I, free? I, great? Not while Josephine and God 
And Louis the Eighteenth have power to haunt me ! 
Not every man can be an atheist ^^^ 
Who would be. Else, what could thwart my Poli- 



cy ? 1^3 



Enter Josephine, agitated. 
Josephine. 



Sire ! 



Napoleon. 
You never called me Sire until to-day. ^^* 
I do not like it, Josephine, from your lips. 
{Kisses her.) 

Joseph ill e. 
My husband ! Bonaparte ! 

Napoleon. 

Something has happened? 

JosepJdne. 
Oh ! much, much, much ! Monsieur Fouchc has 
told me 



NAPOLEON. 123 



Everything. At last iny awful doom is liere ! 
I have been yours eleven years, Napoleon, 
And now I am to be divorced? 

Napoleon. 

Who said so ? 

Joaephine. 
Spare yourself, Bonaparte. Who could have said so 
Without your knowledge and consent? Wlio would 

have 
Dared ? Monsieur Fouche said so ! All France says 

so ! 
Have I not eyes, or ears, or a breaking heart ? 
Must I be told what all the world sees plainly ?^'^ 
You want a child : I cannot bear one for you, 

And so — and so — and 

{Breaks down.) 

Napoleon. 

Whoever told you that 
Lied in his throat, and I will cut his tongue out. 

JoHephine. 
Oh ! Bonaparte, for God's sake, don't divorce me ! 
If it must be so, love whom you will, but don't 
Divorce me ! I have put up with much, and now 
I shall endure whatever added insults 
You may choose ; but spare me this. All but Divorce ! 

Napoleo)i. 
I swear it, Josephine. Come to me, darling. 



124 NAPOLEON. 



Now tell me what MoDsieur Foil die has dared to 
Say. He shall pay well for it, the miscreant ! ^^''^ 

Joaephine. 
Sire, I thank 3'ou from the bottom of my heart. 
The Minister of General Police, then, 
Began by asking, if I had been informed, 
That you had brought a beautiful young mistress 
Here to Fontainebleau. 

Napoleon. 
That Fouclie came from hell ! 
I hope you told him that he lied, Josephine ? 

Jo^eplmie. 
I did, indeed. For even a husband is 
Not all brute. No, Bonaparte, I told Monsieur 
Fouche that you would not parade yonr vices 
Before 1113' very face, however much yoii 
Mio'ht indulo'e in them behind mv back — alas ! 

Napoleon. 
Brava ! my wnfe ! Oh ! if you had always shown 
Such confidence as that ! 

Josephine. 

But Monsieur Fouche 
Laughed at my incredulity ; gave me the 
Woman's name — Countess Walewska — and also 
Said that she was here at Fontainebleau. Ts she ? 



NAPOLEON. 125 



Napoleon. 

There never ^Yas a liar equal to that 

Monsieur Fouche — yes, Monsieur de Talleyrand ! 

And it is to these two inimitable 

Liars that I am forced to show the very 

Beatings of my heart ? Bah ! I will show them now ! 

Josephine. 

But what Monsieur Fouche told me about this 

Paramour, was not the deepest cause of my 

Distress, Napoleon. Marriage is not a bar 

In these loose days to love — if it ever was, 

Since love, true love is free and brooks no '^slialt 

nots ; " 
But what he told me, about my barrenness, 
That, broke my heart. Because I knew. Napoleon, 
That in addition to that sublime instinct 
Which makes a man desii-e to be a father, 
You have the added yearnings of ambition 
To have a son to whom to leave the Empire ! 

Napoleon. 

You put your finger upon the naked nerve 
Which causes all the anguish of my soul. Don't ! 

Josephine. 

Alas ! My husband, my pity for myself 
Is lost in that I feel for vou. 



126 NAPOLEON. 



Napoleon. 

Josephine ! 

Josephine. 

It was to prove to me that your desire for 
Children was paramount, and must before long 
Lead to my divorce, that he proposed to me 
That cruel jest of asking, whom you thought first. 
And when you answered, that you esteemed her first 
Who could bear children, did you not see the leer, 
The mocking leer of triumph, upon his face ? 
Nor hear that cursed laugh of his which laughs not ?'''^ 

Na2)oleon. 

He has out-devilled his own deviltry, and 

He shall pay for it, now ! Ho ! there, somebody ! 

Enter a Page. 

Paper and pens, without delay. (Exit Page. 

Josephine ! 

Josepliine. 
Sire ! 

Napoleon. 
Hortense, your daughter, taught me to believe ;^'^ 
But you have taught me something much more noble. 
You have taught all of us how g-reat souls suffer ! 



NAPOLEON. 137 



He-enter the Page. 

Aiul you shall see now how profouiKl my thanks are. 
{Sits on the bench and writes. Then reads alond.) 

{Exit tlie Page. 
Now listen, Josephine. 

" Monsieur Fouchc : In 
The last fortnight I have heard too much about 
Your foolish actions. And it is time for you 
To put an end to them, and to stop meddling. 
Directly or indirectly, in matters 
AVhich in no way concern you. It is my wish."^^'-* 

There ! Do you think that that ^Yill finish Fouchc? 

Josephine. 

If you could know my gratitude, Napoleon, 
And the relief which A'our assurances have 
Brought me, you would feel repaid. Kiss me, my 
King. 

Napoleon. 

And now you rest here, while I deliver this 
In person. Madame de Remusat will come 
To attend you. Adieu, sweetheart ! {Exit. 

Josephine. 

{Drops upon tlie bench.) 

He loves me ! 



128 NAPOLEON. 



Enter Mme. Mueat and Countess Walewska. 

Mine. Miirat. 
All ! Her Imperial Majesty alone. 
Allow me to present the Emperor's dear 
Friend, who is to live with us at Fontainebleau. 
Your Majesty, this is Countess Walewska ! 

(Josephine tries to rise, but falls back fainting.) 



Curtain. 



ACT III. 



The Evening Sacrifice.— 1801). 



ACT III. 

Scene 1. — A Secret Boudoir at Saint-Gload. Night. 

Discovered — Josephine and Talleyrant) cautt'onsli/ 
looking in at the door. Before another door lead- 
ing to inner room, Rustan lies adeep npoii the 
floor .^-^ 

Talleyrand. 

Would it be safe, Your Majesty, to rouse Lim ? 

Josejjhine. 
No ! He is capable of killing us both ; ^^^ 
But he will not disturb us — he knows my step. 
If you are sure that this is her room, enter ! 

(Talleyrand goes toivard door.) 
But hold, Monsieur de Talleyrand ! The gossips 
Of the Court may have misled you : in which case 
Nothing could possibly avert lu}^ ruin, 
If a suspicion of this espionage 
Should reach the Emperor. 

(Grasping Talleyrand's hcoids.) 

Are you a true man ? 

Talleyrand. 
The history of my relations with your 
;v — recall it ! Am I a true )nan V 



l;32 NAPOLEON. 



Is not my presence at this moment in this 
Perilous place sufficient answer? Were I 
Not altogether true to the unhappy 
Cause which weighs so heavily upon your 
Majesty, would I risk everything as 
I do now, by playing the spy upon the 
Gallantries of my imperial master ? ^- 

Joseijliine. 
True, Talleyrand ! Of course, of course. Forgive 
me ! 

Talleyrand. 

Most gracious mistress ! Now w^e must to the point. 

{Amie.) 
The devil only knows just how to reach it. 

(Aloud.) 
Constant assured me that one Babette — 

Josephine. 

Babette ? 
Tulle ijr and. 
I think that was her name 

Josephine. 

Never mind. Go on. 

Talleyrand. 
Constant assured me that this Babette — Susette — 

Josepliine. 
Babette — I know her ! — if I could once get my 
Two hands — but never mind ! Proceed ! 



NAPOLEON. 133 



Talleyrand. 

He said t bat- 
Come to tliink of it, it was Susette, yes— that 
Susette— I mean Babette — no, no, Susette — tLat 
She would be here at this hour. I was a fool 
To count upon a woman. 

Josephine. 

That woman, 3'es ! 

Talleyrand. 
She was the onl}' one connected with the case. 
Bat, then, it alwaj's is the only woman 
Whom one has got to trust, that can't be trusted ! 

Josephine. 
And if that vixen had been here, pray tell me, 
Just how would she have been of service to us ? 

Talleyrand. 
Wliy, as a woman ! 

Josejyhine. 

Monsieur de Talleyrand 
Remembers that he was a bishop sometimes : 
He mystifies, to prove that he is learned. 
What are the uses of a woman — Bishop ? 

Talleyrand. 
Three ! 



184 NAPOLEON. 



Josephine. 
So many? I fancied tliat wlien we had 
Amused our lords we Lad fulfilled our function ! 

Talleyrand. 
Bj' no means ! Woman is to be made use of 
In three ways : first, as a medium for the 
Dissemination of important secrets ; 
Second, as the unfailing vehicle for 
Getting what is most confidential published ; 
And third, as the discriminating agent 
Who confides all that she knows to all the world. 

Josephine. 
And this Babette is recommended to you — 

Talleyrand. 
As one in whom implicit confidence is 
Placed, and therefore one from whom we may 

expect 
To learn all that has been confided to her. • 

Josephine. 
Enough, Monsieur ! Now to the point ! My heart 
breaks. 

Talleyrand. 
Myriad repentances. 

Josepjliine. 
The point ! the point ! 



NAFOLEOl^. 185 



Monsieur de Talleyrand has piloted me 

Here. He tells me that this is the boudoir of 

My husband's favourite, mysteriously 

Hints that this wanton woman can in some way 

Save me, a lawful and obedient wife, 

From the unutterable shame of a divorce. 

And I believed him ! Truly despair does make 

A woman trustful. If you have an}' heart, 

Come to the point, the point ! I cannot longer 

Breathe the air of this accursi'd place. Good God ! 

Talleyixind. 
Now that Your Majesty is seated, I can 
In one word — yes, one word, or at most, two words — 

Jose2Jhine. 
Two words ! — then speak them, Monsieur de Talley- 
rand. 

T(jUeAjrand. 



The child ! 



Josephine. 
What child ? 



Talleyrand. 

The missing child, of course. 

JoHephine. 

Whose ? 
Talleyrand. 



Your Majesty's 



i;U) NAPOLEON. 



Josephine. 
You mock? 

Tidleyrand. 

On the contrray, 
I would forever stop the months of those whose 
IMockiug has now acquired such fatal meaning. 
Your Majest}^ — sweet mistress — open your heart 
To me, your oldest servant, your truest friend. 
What would forever put an end to all this 
IMausible outrage of a divorce ? 

Josephine. 

A child. 

Talleyrand. 
Your Majesty, the Emperor will shortly 
Have a child. ^-'^ 

Josephine. 

Monster ! fiend ! Wretch without a heart ! 
Was it to fling this at me that you came here? 

Talleyrand. 
Whenever I am damned for giving advice 
1 know that the advice will without doubt be 
Taken. The Emperor says, " Damn you, Monsieur ! "" 
And the next day the Emperor says, " Monsieur, 
What do 3'ou think of such and such a plan, eh ? " 
]\[y very plan. So then I nay, '*' Not to be 
Thought of, Sire ! " The Emperor adopts it then. 



NAPOLEON. la- 



Josephine. 
{Who hafi been pondering deeply.) 
Mousieur de TulleyraiKl. 

Tallcijrand. 

Yours, Your Majesty. 

Jo.'iephine. 
Napoleon's cliikl of whom you speak — his mother — 

Talleyrand. 
The mother wouhl without a doubt be wilhug 

To— to— to 

Jose})] line. 
There is, then, something which Monsieur 
Hesitates to say ? I did not think there was. 

Talleyrand. 
Yes — some of the bishop hangs about me yet. 

fTosejjhine. 
Some ? Why, Monsieur de Talleyrand, the Bishop, 
And our Monsieur de Talleyrand, the, the, the — 

Talleyrand. 
The pawn ? 

Jose'phine. 
No, not the pawn ; for pawns move on straight 
Lines. What shall I sav? — the knave ! — 



188 NAPOLEON. 



Talleyrand, 

There are no knaves 
In chess. 

Josephine. 
Bat in the game which we are pla^dng ? 

Talleyrand. 
All hangs upon one trick. 

Josephine. 

Which the knave can take ? 

Talleyrand. 
No, not as against the queen ; but with the queen, 
Your Majesty — the queen and knave together. 

Josep)hine. 
You wish me to proclaim this bastard my child ? ^'^^ 

Talleyrand. 
Why not ? He is your husband's and, therefore, half 
Your own. The medical profession, doubtless, 
Will certify that, contrary to all our 
Fears, Your Majesty will be a mother soon.^^^ 

Josephine. 
Experts have sworn that I cannot bear children. 

Talleyrand. 
Experts ! Your Majesty, there are more experts. 



NAPOLEON. 1:^9 



Nothing is easier tlian to find experts 
Ready to swear to aiiytliiDg and prove it ! 

Joaephine. 
You tempt me, Talleyrand. Yes, if the boy is 
Born with eyes like his — oh ! God ! 

Talleyy-and. 

Your Majesty 

Would own him for her child ? Then I can swear 

that 
The divorce shall never more be spoken of. 

Josephine. 
But you forget one thing : -the— the mother !— 

Talleyrand. 

Bah ! 

She will agree to it to-night — ^joyfully. 

[A very long pause.) 

Josephine, 

I utterly deny it, and defy you ! 

No woman could do that and be a woman. 

If this one should, the child whom she will bear 

would 
Have the taint of her brute nature in his blood. 
You brought me here to make that proposition? 
IMake it yourself ! And may the tigress, lurking 
In mothers' hearts, spring from this outraged mother, 
And rip and tear your blasted heart to pieces ! 

{Exit. 



140 NAPOLEON. 



TaUe.yrand. 
Fool ! Fool ! Fool ! Fool ! Then I must do it 
for yon. 

RuMan. 
(StoTling up.) 
Rustan who never sleeps is here, Emperor ! 

(Napoleon is heard dnginy out of tune without.) 

Talleyrand. 
The Emperor? That rascal Constant lied, then ? 
He must not find me here ! Rustan, j^ou black fiend ! 
{Enjoins silence on Rustan, and hides behind a 
table.) 

Enter Napoleon. 

Napoleon. 
(Singing lustili/.) 
" Out of myself I Oat of myself! " 

Talleyrand. 
(Aside.) 
Out of his head ? He owns to it at last, eh ? 

Napoleon. 
(Belloioing.) 
" Out from myself : 

Out from my j^ast with its lorecks and contrition.'' 

Enter Mme. Walewska, running. 

Mn \ e. Walewska. 
(Taking up the song.) 
" Come, come to me I " 

(Napoleon embraces her.) 



NAPOLEON. 141 



Tallet/rand. 
(Aside.) 
Extremely pretty. 

N(/poleo//. 
You did not expect me ? 

Mme. ]VaJewsk:a. 
Indeed, indeed, I did not ! 

Ihlleyrand. 
(Aside.) Neither did I ! 

Napoleon. 
And the lover whom m}^ jealousy told me 
That I would find with 3'ou, is not here, is he ? 
Or have you hidden him behind the curtains V 

JIme. Waleicska. 
You naughty, jealous sweetheart ! Look where you 

will. 
If you can find a thing that has the sHghiest 
Semblance to a man, or that could possibly 
Be called a man, I'll own that I am fickle. 

'Talleyixind. 
{Aside.) 
Tins is becoming interesting — very ! 

Napoleon. 
No, Mtirie, no, I will not look for him. 



142 NAPOLEON. 



Talleyrand. 
(Aside.) Thanks ! 

Najjoleoii. 
I came to tell 3'ou what Monsieur Fouche says, 
That devilish Monsieur de Talleyrand has 
Hatched at last out of that hell he calls his heart. 

3Ime. Waleivska. 
'Why do you drag that monster into our nest ? 
Would you allow him to come here in person ? 

Na2)oleon. 
If I should catch him here — but he knows better ! 
He is a good soul, too, in spite of all. Why, 
Do you know, that he is at this moment in 
Very serious trouble owing to his 
Devotion to us ? 

Talleyrand. 
(Aside). Don't mention it, please, Sire. 

Mme. Waleivska. 
Well, drop his horrid name. 

Talleyrand. 
[Aside). Yes, change the subject. 

Napoleon. 
But I must tell you of his latest plotting. 

Enter Babette ivilh a tray hearing chocolate. She 
goes to table and discovers Talleyrand, loho en- 
joins silence. 



NAPOLEON. • 14;i 



You see, Marie, he and Fouclie are fencing. 
Bring- me my cliocolafce, Babette. Talleyrand 
Opposes the divorce — not that he cares a 
Sou for Josephine — but to oppose Fouche. 

[Drinks chocolate. Babette returns to the table.) 

Babette. 
(Aside). 
Hello! 

Talleyrand. 
Sh— h ! 

Babette. 
He won't hear you, and she won't tell. 

Ncqyoleon. 
Another cup, Babette. So then, as Fouche 
Grows more vehement for the divorce, Monsieur 
De Talleyrand cudgels his poor old empty 
Pate for some deep scheme with which to circum- 
vent 
His brother devil. And what do you suppose 
That he has hit upon ? 

Talleyrand. ^. 
(Aside.) This is delicious. 

Afnie. Wateinska. 
I can't imagine, Sire. 



144 NAPOLEON. 



Napoleon. 
Would 3'0ii believe it ? 
He actually proiDOses to suggest 
To you to sell your child to Josepliine, who 
is to palm herself off as the mother. 

Mme. Walewska. 
(Springs up.) What ! 

I am to sell my boy who is yours also ? 
I am to lie about the crowning glory 
Of my life, and to deny, for pay, that I, 
I, Marie Walewska, became the mother 
Of Napoleon's boy ? Where is the miscreant? 
Is that the proposition which he intends 

To make ? 

Talleyi^and. 
(Aside.) 

Not now, I've changed my mind about it ! 

JlabeUe. 
Madame requires no further service ? 

3Ime. Walewska. 

. No, go ! 

Babette. 
(To Talleyrand.) 
Now is your chance — only if Constant finds you ! 
(SJie takes tlie tray. Talleyrand hides behind her 
as she goes toward the door. Exeunt Tal- 
leyrand and Babette.) 



NAPOLEON. 



Napoleon. 

Sit down, Sweetheart. I sliall know liow to colour 
Your pale cheeks now, and not \Yith rouge. I shall 

say, 
Talleyrand ! 

Mine. Walewska. 

And all my blood Avill burn wit,li shame 
That such a monster should be called a man ! Ugh ! 

Napoleon. 

Away ^vith thoughts of him ! I came for peace, 

dear. 
Love is that golden fact with which the heavy 
Universe of man's anxiety and cares ^~'' 
Is balanced — and out-weighed when balanced, leav- 
ing 
The margin of preponderance on the side 
Of joy ! Life would not be worth living, nay, life 
Could not at all be lived, but for love's mercy, 
Which, with a measureless indifference to 
Keason's dictates and to man's conventions, floods 
All the world, and to each breaking heart unfolds 
Tlie incommunicable secret of one 
Other heart, wliicli is the answer and the end 
Of tlie unutterable yearning of man's soul. 

3Ime. Walew^ka. 
I love vou so much more wlien vou are sad, Sire. 



146 NAPOLEON. 



Napoleon. 
Then love me now as you have never loved me. 

Mme. Walewska. 
Are 3'ou so sad to-night, dear ? What makes you sad ? 

Napoleoii. 
Eead this — it is from Josephine — and see ! 

3Ime. Walewska. 
(Reads the note ; crumples it, falls at Napoleon's 
feet.) 

Sire ! 
Curtain. 

Scene 2. — A Gallery at Fontainchleau. ^-' Mornimj. 

Discovered — A small table at centre front. Two 
large chairs hack to hack near the tahle. In one 
of them, Talleyrand sitting, in the other, Fouche. 
After a sullen silence. 

Talleyrand. 
Monsieur Fouche puts on as many airs as 
If his own scheme for divorce had done so much ! 

Fouche. 
Monsieur de Talleyrand is naturally sore, 
Since his line scheme for — what would you call your 
scheme — 



NAPOLEON. 147 

Oh ! 3'es — since his fine scheme for cheating nature 
And making the barren bear, has come to naught. 

Talleyrand. 
When his own scheme has carried, Monsieur Fouchc 
May laugh : till then let him not brag of what lie 
"Will, or will not, do with these women. Burn them ! 

Fouchc. 
Ha ! ha ! ha ! ha ! Were they so very dreadful ? 
The rumour is, that Monsieur de Talleyrand 
AVas so unmercifully trounced on making 
His gallant proposition to madame wife. 
That he was glad enough to drop the matter 
And get away alive witliout so much as 
Mentioning the bargain to madame mistress ! 

Talleyrand. 
They lie. Monsieur Fouche. I saw my errour. 
And so desisted and instantly withdrew. 

Fouche. 
Behind the petticoat of fair Babette, eh ? 

T( file yr and. 
Anotlier arrant lie ! Monsieur Fouche, I 
Do confess that I am guilty of a crime. 

FoucJie. 
(Turning Itis chair partly around.) 
It was much worse than a mere crime, it was a 
blunder ! ''^ 



148 NAPOLEON. 



Talleyrand. 
Spoken like a true politician. 
It was a blunder. Crimes can be forgiven. 

Fouc/ie. 
But blunders never ! Monsieur de Talleyrand 
Has but one wa}^ in wliicli to overtake tbis 
Terrible mistake and regain ground. 

Talleyrand. 
(Turning his chair ijartly around.) 

What way ? 
Fouche. 



By lielpiog me. 



Talleyrand. 
To compass tbe- 

Fouche. 



The divorce. 



Talleyrand. 
You never can break down Napoleon's scruples. 

Fouche. 
He never in his life had one of those things ! 

Talleyrand. 
Not against breaking the commandments, Fouche, 
No one in these days has ; but Bonaparte is 
Scrupulous to a degree about having 
His own wav ! 



NAPOLEON. 14!) 



Fouclie. 
Then you must make liis way our ^Yay. 

Talleyrand. 
Have you uot tried to ? 

Fouche. 

Monsieur de Talleyrand 
Has not ; until he has, we must not lose heart. 

Talhiirand. 

{Aside.) 
There must be something- back of this ; what is it ? 

(Aloifd.) 
Monsieur Fouche is very generous, but 
He allows his manners to blind his reason. 
What arguments, in heaven's name, could I make 
Use of that have not long ago occurred to 
One whose fund of arguments in this respect 
Is inexhaustible ? 

Fouche. 
Monsieur forgets one 
Most imiDortant fact. Monsieur de Talleyrand 
Has until now been bitterly opposed to 
The divorce. Now^ don't Monsieur observe that, if 

(He hitches his chair completely around.) 
Monsieur suddenly turns around and favours 
Tlie divorce, he will have influence beyond 
All mine? Commend me to a convert always 



150 NAPOLEON. 



For telling arg-uments, for truth sits lightly 
On those who hold to it by being born to't. 
Till now Monsieur de Talleyrand has always 
Pulled one way, and I the other ; and neither 
Moved an inch one way or the other. Now let 
Us pull together and results will follow. 
(Talleyrand wheels his chair around.) 

Talleyrand. 
But Josephine ! 

Fouche. 
Oh, I'll manac'e her. 



Talleyrand. 

Fouche. 
I never found the woman yet I could not. 



Perhaps. 



Talleyrcmd. 
Well, if 3^ou want to make that record stand you, 
Take my advice, and never ask a mother 
To disown her child. 

Fouche. 
Nor to give birth to one 
By proxy ? No, I shall not. 

Talleyrand. 

A mother is 
A riddle I give up. Nothing corrupts her. 
The woman who will sell her soul, and argue 



NAPOLEON. 151 



Like a mau, and barter this aud that, for her 
Advantage, becomes unreasonably pure. 
Ineffably unselfish, stupidly great, 
Tiie moment that you do but mention lier child. 

Fouche. 
No fear that I shall meddle much witli mothers. 

Talleyrand. 
Be wise, and do not. 

Fouche. 
If you will bolster up 
Napoleon's courage, I will fix — Josephine. 
The Emperor has given me permission 
To open fire, and Josephine will be here 
In a moment ; but he is so insanel}^ 
Superstitious, that he may even yet spoil 
Everything, if she begins to roll her 
Eyes up at him and call herself his star.^-'* 



Talleyrand. 
We shall eclipse tliis star. 



Bah ! 



Fouche. 

For this eclipsing 
I am your man ; for I am nothing, if not 
Opaque. Now, if IMonsieur de Talleyrand will 
Guarantee to keep his Majesty, the sun, 
Shining in one fixed place for the next half -hour, 



152 NAPOLEON. 



I pledge mj soul on totally eclipsing 
This star of destiny. I hear her coming. 

Talleyrand. 
Then to my ^YOl•k. Where can I find Napoleon ? 

Fouche. 
(Accomprnujwg Talleyrand lo door.) 
Biting his nails, I guess, out on the terrace. 
Sweep him before you like a broken mill-dam ! 
Say France, France, France, every five minutes, and 
Ask liim, in between, whom he prefers. Bourbons 
Or nephews, to succeed him? Then send him in. 
I think that the eclipse will become total 
In fifteen minutes. Yes, send him in to her 
In fifteen minutes. Quick ! Here she is ! 

Talleyrand. 

Till then 



And, Fouche, say a good word for me, will you ? 

(Exit Talleyrand, 

Enter Josephine. 

Jose2:)hine. 
The Emperor has sent me this — look at it. 

(Rands Fouche a note.) 
Monsieur Fouche desires to consult with us. 
Monsieur Fouche has the permission of the 
Emperor. Will, tlieu, Monsieur Fouche please have 
The goodness to come immediately and 



NAPOLEON. 158 



Without ceremony to the important 

Question which seems to trouble Monsieur Fouche ? 

Fouclie. 
Say, rather, France, your Majesty — which troubles 
France. The question of all questions which threatens 
France with grave confusion till it be settled. '•^' 

Josephine. 
Affairs of state would best be settled by those 
To whom the government has been entrusted. 

Fouche. 
Certain affliirs of state, however, require 
Your Majesty's attention, because they do 
More nearly touch herself. 

JosepJi.lne. 

What ! Monsieur Fouche, 
Monsieur Fouche ! You are an arrant coward. 
By some foul lie you have induced the kindness 
Of my husband to grant you this disgraceful 
Opportunity to once again insult 
Me. I see your devilish heart, you monster ! 
You mean divorce ! That is the precious question 
Which requires all this mysterious cringing 
At my heels, this fawning, this palavering. 
These lies ! Have you forgotten, fiend, what treat- 
ment 
You received from your imperial master 
When you presumed to meddle with my honour ? 



154 NAPOLEON. 



Fouche. 
Tliat was two years ago, your Majesty. 

Josephine, 

^Ye\\ ? 
Well ? What if it were two hundred years ago ? 
Have I grown less his wife ? Does marriage loosen 
With the lapse of time ? Monsieur Fouche will not 
Expect to find me willing to hear one word 
From him or any other man, except my 
Husband, upon the question of my divorce ! 

Fouche. 
In what I was about to say, believe me, 
It was His Majesty's own pleasure I meant 
To serve. He sent me here. 

J'ose2jJiine. 

That is a black lie. 

Fouche. 
Let his own hand attest it. Be pleased to read. 

(Josephine reads the note authorizing Fouche to 
2:)ropose the divorce. Paralyzed loiili horror 
,^he sinks upon a clialr.) 
Your Majesty will hear me now, I dare say? 

Josephine. 
Say on. 



NAPOLEON. 155 



Fouche. 
The argaments by wLicli — 

Josephine. 

Don't argue. 

Fouclie. 
There is no need of it, in truth, for one word, 
France, is the whole argument. Your IMajesty, 
If this divorce were planned in order to make 
Koom for some mere wanton favourite — not an 
Unheard of tiling either with kings — I pledge you 
That I would oppose any such outrage, yes, 
At the cost of life. 

Josepldne. 

Go on ! Go on ! Monsieui-. 
Who would have dreamed of sucli devotion to us ? 

Fouche. 
Or if tliere were the faintest hope of Heaven's 
Blessing your Majesty with children, why then, 
Whoever breathed a syllable looking to 
A divorce, were guilty of higli treason. 

Josephine. 

Thanks. 
Fouclie. 
And as for these nefarious suggestions 
or palming off some favourite's bastard son 



150 NAPOLEON. 



As the legitimate and lawful offspring 

Of Your Majesty — the very thought is such 

As no one but a miscreant could entertain, 

Josephine. 
Like Tcdleyrand. 

Foiiche. 

Thank providence, one does not 
Have to apologize for what that man does ! 

Josephine. 
Monsieur Fouche has shown to us on what grounds 
It would have been impossible for him to 
Advocate the sacrilege and outrage which 
He h;is sought this interview to urge. There are, 
No doubt, grounds upon which even his tender 
Conscience and deep devotion feel justified 
In doii]g so. Will he proceed ? Begin — " but " — 

Fouche. 
Bat when one thinks of France, and that the Em- 
pire, 
So marvellously reared by the resistless 
Armies of the Man of Destiny, stands now 
Upon no broader basis than his one life, 
A life so constantly exposed to dangers, 
Who does not join his sighs to those which have 

been 
Wrung from Your Majesty over the failure 
Of providence, in its mysterious ways, 
To bless your marriage? 



NAPOLEON. 157 



Josephine. 
{Rising.) Where is tlie Eiiiporor '? 

Fouche. 
Close by, Your Majesty, upon the terrace. 

Josephine. 
When he has found the Emperor and told him 
That we especialW desire his presence, 
Monsieur Fouche will go and never, if he 
Values his own peace, disturb ours more. Begone ! 

Fouche. 
With one word of assurance that France ma}' look — 

Josephine. 
Take the assurance, then, Monsieur Fouche, that 
France will never have a truer friend than I. 

[E.rit FoucH-h). 
Oh ! Heaven grant me grace to be a good wife ! 

Enter Napoleon. A long silence. 

Napoleon. 
Have 3'ou no argument but tears ? 

Josephine. 

One other : 
I am your wife.^'^^ 

Napoleon. 
Must we be^in so far back ? 



158 NAPOLEON. 



Josephme. 
We must end there. Wherever we may begin. 

Napoleon. 
And drown the hopes of France in tears? Just like 

YOU ! 

Josephine. 
I promise not to cry. 

Napoleon. 
Make no such promise, 
Josephine, unless you are prepared to make 
The pitiless sacrifice which France demands. 
If you are not prepared ; if Monsieur Fouche's 
Arguments have not convinced you ; if you still 
See some way to the establishment of our 
Empire upon a sure foundation without 
The terrible necessity of this which 
Backs my soul ; for my sake, Josephine, reserve 
Your argument of tears ; for against your tears 
I never could and never shall contend. ^•^~ 

Jot^erjliine. 

Oh! 
Sire, I thank you for those words, and you will see 
That, notwithstanding that I have such power, 
I will not by so much as one salt tear, stand 
Between you and glory. I am convinced now. 
I am prepared to make the sacrifice which 
France — our France — demands. 



NAPOLEON. 159 



Nopoleoii. 

It is indeed our Franco, 
Your France no less than mine. I gained the 

battles/- 
But you won men's hearts, and so together we 
Built np this France which now demands this awful 
Token of our boundless love. 

Jomphine. 

Assure me first 
That what I hear is false. They say some mistress — 

Napoleon. 
They lie, whoever they may be ! Some nnstress ! 
Shame, Josephine. You're jealousy incarnate ! -'"^ 

Josepliine. 
If I have been the body, as you declare. 
Of jealousy, you have been jealousy's own 
Spirit making me live. Jealous ! Good heavens I 
What woman would have been insulted as I 
Have, and not been jealous? x4nd as for that, have 
You not heaped upon my head, time after time, 
The most outrageous charges which jealousy ^'^^ 
Kun mad could hatch? The time has come for 

speaking. 

Napoleon. 

AYell, then, the time has come for both of us to 
Speak. I could have stood your preaching, Josepih- 
ine, 



160 NAPOLEON. 



Had jo\x been one whit less unfaithful than I 
Have been. As God is witness, I was not false 
Until I could no longer doubt my senses 
And knew 3'ou to have been unfaithful to me.^^'"' 

Josephine. 
It is a damnable falsehood, straight from hell ! 
Name him, Napoleon. Name just one man for whom 
I, even in my heart, have felt what should have 
Been felt onl}^ for yourself. Don't turn it off! 
If you can name him, do so ! 

Napoleon. 

Well, then, I will. 
Bat why be so particular about it ? 
In Egypt, Germany, Italy, and Spain, 
Wherever I was fighting, my heart was wrung 
By the incessant tidings of 3"our amours.^^^ 

Josepjhine. 
Rumours which to an absent lover always 
Seem black. Confess that you cannot name one man. 

Napoleon. 
I can ! Out of a score that I could name you, 
I name you Monsieur Charles ! Come, now, what 

say you ? ^"^ 

(Josephine not expecting this, betrays eonfus>oii.) 
Forgive me, Josephine. I did not mean to 
Resurrect, in this our last hour, those bitter 
Criminations and recriminations which 



NAPOLEON. ici 



Have already clone so much toward wrecking 

A life that might have been, beyond words, peaceful. 

Josephine, 
I have in every point endeavoured, Sire, 
To be a good wife. 

Napoleon. 

And you have .succeeded. 
How to go out into the future, darling. 
Without you, is the question which fills my heart 
With inexpressible distress and anguish. 

Jo^^epliine. 
And it must be ? 



Napoleon, 
If France is to continue 

Josephine. 
And this div 



After my death. 

{Sobs.) 

Napoleon. 

Tears, Josephine? 
Josephine. 
No ! No ! I will be true ! Have you decided 
When I am to — when the divorce — Napoleon ! 

Napoleon. 
It will be best to consummate the matter 
Without delay. 



103 NAPOLEON. 



Josephine. 
Yes ! What would you call delay ? 

Napoleon. 
Ten days, or so — at tlie outside, a fortniglit.^"^ 

Josephine. 

Good God ! forgive me, I am not very well, 

May this last hour be all mine, all mine, husband? 

Napoleon. 
All yours, all yours, dear, as I shall ever be. 

Josephine. 

And you will uot be angry with me, will you ? 
And I may feel as if this were our first, and 
Not our last hour, and that an everlasting 
Joy was just beginning, not the eternal 
Darkness that has begun ? 

Napoleon. 

Yes, Josephine, but 
For the sake of France, do not pretend this joy 
Too skilfully, lest we lay hands upon it. 
And make it stay, and drive that uightmare, duty, 
Away forever. I love you, Josephine. 

Joseplilne. 
And when I am divorced, whom will vou marrv ?^'^ 



NAPOLEON. 108 



Napoleon. 
Hiisb ! You will break my heart ! Some woman, 
doubtless. 

Josepliine. 

God ! If it only migbt be some man, some man, 

Bat not a woman ! You do not know just what 

An agon}' a woman feels, NajDoleon, 

At the bare thought of having any other 

Woman in her place. And — and this is my place. 

Na2:)oleoii. 

And where you are no other ever can be. 

You were made mine not by a ceremony, 

But by that Destiny which has forever ^^^ 

Set me apart from other men, above them. 

I am no ordinary man, nor am I 

Bound by ordinary law^s of morals, or ^^- 

Of life. The sooner that the world discovers 

This, the better ! And Josej)hine, Destiny 

Laid its irresistible decrees on you, 

And you are bound inextricably to me. 

Think not, therefore, that any separation 

Is separation, nor that divorce will mean 

Divorce of soul. 

Josephine. 

Sublime, but keep such comforts 
For the dark hours that are to come to-morrow. 
This hour is mine, a simple human woman, 
And neither thouj^fhts of Destinv, nor sublime 



1G4 NAPOLEON. 



Metaphors can stop the ache here in my heart. 

Before I have to face that awful future ; 

Before I have to brace m3'self to leave you ; 

Before I hear your marriage bells ring, 

And am compelled to learn your new wife's name, 

oh! 
Let me live again the past with you ! Do ! Do ! 

{She rings a table-bell. ) 

Napoleon. 
But without witnesses, I beg you. 

Enter a Servant. 

Josephine. 

Pray bid 
Madame de Remusat to come here quichly, 

{Exit Servant. 
Yes, without witnesses. Upon our sorrows 
Ail the world may stare, but on a wife's sweet past 
It would be sacrilege for anyone to 
Look, except her husband. 

Enter Mme. de Remusat. 

My letter casket, 
Brino- it to me, dear. 



Mme. de Remusat. 

At once, Your Majesty. 
{Exit Mme. de Remusat. 



NAPOLEON. 1(35 



Napoleon. 
Will this not prove too painful ? 

Josephine. 

Painful ! Your love ? 

Napoleon. 
The past makes even happiness seem sad. 

Josephine. 

True, 
But when one has no future the past means all. 

Napoleon. 
This is 3^our hour, poor child. 

Josephine. 

Then let me fill it, 
Up to the very brim with your old dear self. 

Enter ]\Ime. de Remusat with the casket. 

Here, give it me, Chiri. 

Mnie. de Remusat. 
And then? 

Josepldne. 

Then go, dear, 
(Mme. de Rkmusat goes to the door ; returns, 
falls at Napoleon's feet iniplorlngli/, cannot 
speal, e.rit, hastihj.) 



106 NAPOLEON. 



Napoleon. 
(Facing about the room.) 
Poor France ! At this rate bow can we persevere ? 

Josephine. 
(Having opened the casket and untied the letters, 
reads aloud.) 
" But I am sure that you will always be my 
Faithful consort, as I shall be your fondest 
Lover. Yes, death alone can break the union 
Which sympathy and love and sentiment have 
Formed." You wrote that in the hour of glory — ^'^ 

Napoleon. 

Where ? 
Josephine. 
Verona, upon the twenty-ninth, at noon. 

Napoleon. 
Verona ? That was immediately, then, 

After Areola. 

Josephine. 

Your letter glows with news 
Of Areola — and love for me. 

Napoleon. 

Areola ! 
Areola ! Read no more, Josephine, no more. 

(To himself.) 
We took five thousand prisoners and killed at 



NAPOLEON. Mu 



Least six thoiisaiul of the enemy. Bat for 
The blunder of Vaubois in abandoning 
Rivoli, we might have ^^ 

Josephine. 

Here is another : 
{Eeads.) 
*' There is only one woman for me. Do you 
Know her ? If I should draw her portrait, you would 
Not recognize it, Josephine, thinking it 
Flattery. ... I find the nights so very long 
In solitude. I love you — long so for ^^ou."^*"' 

Napoleon. 
Be merciful to me ; if you must read, read 
To yourself. I cannot stand it. Where was I 
When I wrote that letter ? 



JosepJii.ne. 

At Posen. 

Napoleon. 



Posen ! ^'« 



Josephine. 
Posen ! You start. Does memory accuse you ? 

Napoleon. 
That was a hard and memorable winter. 

[Aside.) 
Marie Walewska was in my arms that night. 

(Aloud.) 
Be merciful. Shut up the casket, won't you ? 



168 NAPOLEON. 



Josephine. 
This is my Lour. And I would have you once n:iore 
Mine altogether as these old lines prove you. 

(Reads.) 
" My only Josephine, away from you there 
Is no happiness ; the world a desert where 
I stand alone. My hand is on my heart ; your 
Image beats there, I look at it, and love is 
Perfect happiness for me." ^^^ 

Napoleo7i. 

Josephine, stop ! 

Joseph hie. 
(Beads on.) 
*' To live for Josephine. That is the story 
Of my life." 

Napoleon. 
(Snatching the letters.) 

You shall not torture n:ie like that ! 

Josei^hine. 
(Gettiiig another letter from the casket.) 
It is my hour. Napoleon — it is ni}^ last. 
This looks to be a very old one — then it 
Is surely sweet. Wives must look far, far backward 
To find their lovers. Yes, it is very old ; 
You wrote it, husband, in Italy in June ; 
How sweet it must be ! We had just been married. 



NAPOLEON. 1G9 



Napoleon. 
(Taking her in his arnifi.) 
You shall not read it ; I shall block the way 
Before each word with kisses. Give it to me. 

Josephine. 
Let me read just this one, written in Jane in ^ 

Italy — the sky, the flowers are in it.^^^ 

(Beads.) 
" A thousand kisses on your ejes, your lips. Oh ! 
What a great power you have over me, my 
Queen ! " What is this ? Napoleon, for God's sake, 

look! 

Napoleon. 

(Taking the letter.) 
Where ? I see naught but love, love, love. 

Josephine. 

All love, but 
With what awful meaning in it now\ Look at 
That sentence. Look ! 

Napoleon. 
(Rearh.) " A child as lovely as its 

Mother wdll be born to you." You must not read ! 
(Throivs down letter.) 

Josephine. 
(Picking up letter and kissing it.) 
It never, never, came, that little child ! 



170 NAPOLEON. 



Napoleon. 

Stop ! 

Josephine. 

He never came to save his mother from this 
Hour of shame. 

Napoleon. 

It is enough ! You are my wife, 
And while I live 3'ou shall not be an outcast. 

(Imperatok glides in luhile Napoleon speaks and 
remains unohsei^ved at rear.) 
And what is life at all, but a blind groping, 
A thirst, a feverish pursuit, a death-throe ? 
The glory that lures men on hovers above 
Destruction ; and while they listen to the lies 
Which Destiny and Fate seduce them with, Life, 
Deep, warm, honest, humble life, lies in their grasp ! 
We press toward the attainment of our dreams 
Trampling realities beneath our feet ! No ! 
I have dreamed enough ! Destiny shall no more 
Cheat me of what I have by promises of 
What I might have, Josephine, I swear by — Look ! ^^^ 

[He catches sight o/*Imperator who menaces.) 

Josephine. 

Is some one near us ? You are as white and cold 
As if vou had a^'ain seen Charlemagne. 



NAPOLEON. 171 



Napoleon. 

Hush ! 
I had forgotten France in thinking only 
Of ourself. It must be, Josephine ! Divorce ! 

Josephine. 
(Falls at his feet.) 
No ! No ! Not after what you have been saying — ■ 
Napoleon, look at me ! Don't stare so ghastly 
At that hallucination of your brain. Look ! 
Look at me. I am your fact, your actual peace, 
Whatever your ambition may tempt you with. 

Napoleon. 
(Gazing fixedly at Impp:rator.) 
Ul?, Josephine, get up ! Will you desert me 
At an hour like this ? The destinies of France 
Hang in the balance of your favour, woman, 
And for a kiss you will betray your trust? 

Josephine. 

(Rises.) No ! 

True to myself by being true to you, I ^^ 
Shall prove true to France. Proclaim me not 3'our 

wife. 

(Imperatok vehemently commands compliance.) 

Napoleon. 
I cannot, Josephine. You are my wife — but 



172 NAPOLEON. 



Yes, it must be. I am the man the Empire, 
France, the universe, require. I follow thee. 
[To Imperatoe, ivho goes out.) 

Josephme. 
(GafJierhig the scattered letters.) 
My hour is past. Tell me that I have been a 
Good wife to you. 

Napoleon. 
History, Josephine, to 
The remotest ages will celebrate you. 
Adieu ! Adieu ! Adieu ! indissolubly 
Mine in soul. The time has come now when you 

must 
Formally announce your willingness. A line 
Will do ; I may expect it from you shortly ? 

Josephine. 
At once ! At once ! I cannot promise to be 
Strong to-morrow. What shall I write, my hus- 
band ? 

Napoleon. 
Two words — your bare consent. You have no 
paper ? 

Josejjhine. 
Yes. Let me write on this — the back of this dear 
Note, written in June in Ital}' — the one 
In which you speak about the child that never — 
(Breaks dovm.) 



NAPOLEON. 178 



Napoleon. 
Sacrilege, no ! 

Josephine. 
Sanctification, rather ! 
Yes, it must be on tliis, then God will bless it. 

{She lorites, then reads aloud.) 
" The Empress heartil}' accords in feeling 
"With the Emperor, that the best interests 
Of France require that she be now divorced, to 
The intent that — to the intent that — that — 
that "151 

Napoleon. 
{Taking the paper out of her hand.) 
Stop, Josephine ! Stop, Josephine, I cannot 
Bear this strain — something is tearing me. Adieu. 

Josephine. 
My husband — tell me — I am a good wife. 

Napoleon. 

God! 
(Napoleon goes slowly to the door, there he turns. 
Josephine stretches her arms to him, chok- 
ing. Re goes out frantic. Josephine 
swoons.) 1'''^ 

Curtain. 



ACT IV. 

The Shadow of Death. — 1814. 



ACT IV. 

Scene 1. — A Bed room at JlalniaisoiiJ''''^ Nig/it. 

Discovered— Josephine lijufg upon a lounge, Hor- 
TENSE bending over Iter. Countess Walewska 
aoftly fingering her lute at side. 

Josephine. 
{Ill greed weakness.) 
Who came while I was sleeping ? Tell me, Hor- 

teiise. 

Hortense. 

Only Marie, Mamma. ^^^ 

Josepliine. 

I heard a man's voice. 
I dreamed about the Emperor. It seemed that 
He was in some awful peril, and that he 
Sent to me, to Josephine, his wife, for help ! ^^^ 

Hortense. 
It was the Duke's voice. 

Josephine. 
The Duke's ? "What Duke, Hortense ? 
How can vou all be so unmerciful ? God ! 



178 NAPOLEON. 



He is in peril — Napoleon in peril ! ^^^ 
And YOU will not so much as tell me what has 
Befallen him ! Who came ? What duke has been 
here ? 

Hortense. 
Only the Duke of Vicenza.-^'^^ 

Joi^C2:)liwe. 

Caulain court ? 
What has brought him to Paris ? Hark ! What 

was that ? 
Did 3^ou not hear the roar of cannon ? Paris 
Is lost. Help ! Help ! Help there ! Paris is 
taken I 
{Struggles lo her feet.) 

Mme. JValeivska. 

{Coming to aid Hortense.) 
It was my lute. I played a battle song. 

Josephine. 

No! 
The Emperor is taken ! I am his star ! 
My heart has cracked — look, look ! from the top to 

the 
Bottom ! And it has paralyzed Napoleon's 
Great right arm. But where is he? In just wliat 

shape 
Has this inevitable ruin perched upon 



NAPOLEON. 179 



His eagles ? Away from me ! Hortense ! Marie ! 
The Empress of the French — make way there for us ! 
[Falls fainting.) 

3Inie. Walewska. 
In very mercy, let us tell her, Hortense. 

Hortense. 
I am her child, I cannot • 

Mme. Walewska. 

And I am more. 
I am the mortal eneni}' who triumphed 
Over her, robbed her of peace, drove red-hot 
Evidences of ray success into her 
Broken heart : I am the woman whom she could 
Single out to curse — and she forgave me ! Yes, 
Took me to share with her that outcast life, which 
Is the price all pay who love ingratitude. 

Hortense. 

But we must tell her. This terrible suspense 
Will injure her. You see that it is useless 
To try to overcome her fears with reasons. 

Mme. Walewska. 
She sleeps more calmly now 

Hortense. 
Good ! turn down the liiiht 



180 NAPOLEON. 



Marie, and bring your lute. Sing for good dreams 
now. 
(Mme. AValewska hums very softly.) 

Josephine. 
{Brokenly in her sleep.) 

That was a lie they told the Emperor ! 

Hortense. 

{Sofllij to Mme. Walewska.) 

Sing ! 

Jose2jhine. 
They told him that his Josephine was dead. 



Hortense. 

Josephine. 
And he could fiuht no more. 



Sing 



Hortense. 

Sing, sing ! 

Mme. Walewska. 
(Tries, sobs, breaks down.) I caunot ! 

Joseplihie. 
[Rousing herself partially.) 
I see Napoleon standing upon a rock ; 
The dreary, heartless sea surges around him. 
He is alone, disgraced — look ! look ! look ! 
(Falls back.) 



XAPOLEON. 181 



Hortense. 

It was 

A dream — only a dream, Mamma. 

]]Iine. IValeioslM. 

Josephine ! 

Josephine. 

Where is Marie V Give me your hand, Marie, so ; 

Now look, see where I point — you should be able 

To see him as I do, because you also 

Have felt his heart beat — can you not see him ? 

Look ! 

IIo7iense. 

(To Mme. Walewska.) 
I cannot bear this, Marie. Sing, for God's sake. 

3Ime. Waleioska. 
(Clinging to JosEPmNE.) 
Indeed, indeed, I do not see him, darling. 

Josephine. 
Of course not ! And, pray, why should you ? 

3Ime. Waleioska. 

You said so. 
Josephine. 
What did I say ? I deny it. I said that— 

{^Struggles to get np.) 
You shall NOT keep me ! Look ! He beckons to me. 
If he would only look this way ! Napoleon ! 



183 NAPOLEON. 



Your Majesty ! My liusbaiid ! Look, it is L 
It is your Josepliiue. She is not dead, no ! 
She is quite well, and strong, and coming to you ! 
Strike ! Strike your enemies back into the dust ! 
As long as I live, you are the Emperor 
Invincible — and I do live ! Josephine ! 
(Rises trlamphan fly. ) 

Enter Caulaincourt. 

Ilortense. 
Your Grace observes now that the end is coming. 

Caulaincourt. 
The end has come. Paris is in the hands of 
The Allied Powers. ^^* 

Ilur tense. 
The Emperor, your Grace ? 

Caulaincoiirt. 
{Greatly moved, and ivith hesitation.) 
Tlie Emperor — The Emperor — — 

Josej^hvne. 

{Noticing Caulaincourt's presence.) 
Caulaincourt, 
Come to us. Someone has lied. Someone has told 
The Emperor that I am dead. I am not ! 
Go, Caulaincourt, go now, go now, before it 
Is too late. Tell him that Josephine will come 
With reinforcements — more than a million men ! 



NAPOLEON. 188 



Caulainconrt. 

{To HORTENSE.) 

Shall I inform her Majesty ? 

Hortense. 

I beg you. 

Caulaincourt. 
{Kneeling.) 
Your Majesty. 

Josej)Jiine. 
Not gone yet, Caulaincourt ? Go ! 

Caulaincoitrf. 

I went and have returned. The Emperor sends 
His devoted heart 

Josephine. 

Where is the Emperor? 

Caulaincourt. 
At FontainebleauJ'''-* 

Joi^ephine. 
At Fontainebleau ? He is well ? 

Caulaincourt. 
The Emperor is well. He has surrendered."'*^ 



184 NAPOLEON. 



Josephine. 
{Springing to her feet.) 
Surrendered ! AYlien did tlie end come, Caiilain- 
court ? 

Caulaincourt. 
This morning. 

Josephine. 
The hour ? 

Caulaincourt. 

At dawn, yonr IMajesty ! 

Josephine. 
Hortense, I died at dawn this morning. Inform 
The Court. 

(Sinks in deep thought.) 

Go, Caulaincourt. Go, Hortense, also. 
Marie and I alone must pass bej'ond this. 
The Emperor is gathering his last Court : 
Tliey only enter there who loved him truh'. 
IMarie, play on your lute, child, as they go out. 

[Exeunt Hortense and Caulaincourt, slouiij. 
Now to our glorious privilege, Marie. 

[Supjjoiied by Mme. W.vlewska, Josephine cros.'^es 
to a curtained i^ecess, where they kneel and 
pray lief ore an oratory.) 

Curtain. 



NAPOLEON. 185 



Scene 2. — A Bed-room at Foniainehleau.^^^ 

Discovered — Napoleon, haggard and dishevelled, sit- 
ting in an arm-chair before the fire. A small 
mahogany table. A little yelloiv sofa. A windoio 
with balcony at rear. Kustan standing at the door. 
After a pause, enter MACcoNiyiD. ^•'"^ 

Macdonald. 
Sire. 

Napoleon. 
Macdonald ? 

Macdonald. 
Sign — if YOU \Yisb to live, Sire.'*'" 
(Offers the abdication to Napoleon.) 

Napoleon. 
{Crumpling the paper and throwing it away.) 
How say you ? If I wish to live ? They threaten ? 

Macdonald. 
Sire, nothing but abdication can now save 
France. My brother Marshals and myself have spent 
All day in fruitless efforts to avert this."'"* 

Napoleon. 
You are a pack of cowards, traitors, women ! 

Macdonald. 
Sire, if 3-ou had heard the sobs which broke from 



ISO NAPOLEON. 



Napoleon. 
True, dear Macdonakl, true. You are no coward ! 
You crossed the Splugen and forced 3'our way into 
The Valteline, when Hannibal himself would 
Have declared the feat impossible. Do not 
Imagine, man, that I forget such triumplis. 
But, in the name of France and of our eagles, 
Why may we not yet rally ? ^'''^ 

Macdonald. 

Impossible ! 

Napoleon, 
You lie, Macdonald, or you keep back the facts. 
Paris is in the hands of Russians. All France 
Is filled with the in-pouring enemies of 
Her Imperial head — the Allies number "^'^ 
More than twice our force. What of it? It is not 
The first time that you and I have had to face 
Superior numbers, nor must you surely 
Have to be told so late, that with one Frenchman 
A dozen other soldiers are oif-set. No ! 
This is outrageous ! Macdonald, summon a 
Council of our Marshals instantly ! Hear me ? 
If they so much as hesitate, order them 
Shot ! Wounds ! Malediction ! The streets of Paris 
Swarming with Prussian thieves, and we, we, we ! the 
Conqueror of Europe, here at Fontainebleau 
With tens of thousands of our loyal soldiers, 
Armed, eager, thirsting for the word — I say, we 



NAPOLEON. 181 



Lie here mocked by a horde of iwltrooii jMarshuls ! 
Macdoimld, summon no Council of poltroons. 
Order the second Corps to move on Paris ! "'' 
Caulaincourt will join Ney at once, while your own 
Troops will fall back on the Seine above 

Macdonald. 

But, Sire ! 
Napoleon. 
Not one word, traitor. Po you defy us ? Go ! 

JllacdonalrJ, 
With my last breath I will defend you, Sire, Your 
Orders — 

Na^JoIeon. 
Marmont will— 

3Iacdo}iaM, 

But, Sire, the forces of ^^*^ 
Marmont are lost. Marmont has recognized the 
Government. 

N'fjyoleo)!. 
Villain ! Then let Berthier advance— 

3Iacdonald. 
Alas ! Sire, the Prince de Neufchatel also 
Has just submitted to the Provisional 
Government at Paris — ^'''-^ 

Nqjoleon, 

Berthier? Not Berthier? 
Oh ! ^Mankind ! Mankind ! IMacdonald, yester- 
dav.''" 



188 NAPOLEON. 



Yesterdfi}', I s.ay, Berthier was here with nie. 

He jDiit his arms about me, and dwelt npon 

The test which times like these are npon friendship. 

Yes, he, Berthier, Berthier, whom I made Prince 

and 1*1 
Marshal ! Bade me farewell as tenderly as 
One who leaves the mistress of his soul. Berthier ! 

[Falls into the chair.) 

Macdonald. 
The Emperor has other orders ? 



NapoleoJi. 



No ! No ! 



Macdonald. 
Have I permission, then, to state the facts ? 

Napoleon. 

Yes. 

31acdonald. 
All might have been averted, had bnt the King 
Of Naples not played so falsely. ^'^ 

Napoleon. 

That is my 
Sister's work. Caroline, I curse 3'ou ! Go on ! '^•' 

Macdoicdd. 
The failure of his thirty thousand soldiers, 
On whom depended- ^"'^ 



NAPOLEON. 189 



Napoleon. 
I know all that. Read me 
No lecture, man. Of Paris now, and this new 
Government which the accursed populace 
Has bowed to— tell me of that ! Tell me of that ! 

Macdonald. 
Monsieur de Talleyrand is at the forefront 
Of it— 1'5 

Napoleon. 

If there were any hot enough hell, 
I would say damn Talleyrand eternally ! 

Alacdonald. 
xA.ll of Your Majesty's ministers have gone, 
Fouche has gone.^*'' 

Napoleon. 
Fouclie ! Fouche, Fouche — fiend ! 

Macdonald. 
The household, the civil service to a man, 
Society — all Paris is proclaiming 
Louis the Eighteenth ! ^'' 

Napoleon. 
(Startuig up.) Macdonald, in God's name ! 

Macdo7icdd. 
Nothing can possibly prevent the Bourbons 
From returning but instant abdication ! 



190 NAPOLEON. 



Napoleon. 
Then it must be, Macdonald. I abclicate.^'^ 

Macdonald. 
{Falling upon his knees.) 
Sire, it is at tins supremest moment that. 
Your Imperial Majesty is thriee crowned !^'^ 
I hasten to advise the anxious Marshals, 
That our adored Commander has determined now 
To add the star of sacrifice and mercy 
To the immortal lustre of his crown. 

No2:>oleon. 

Go. 
{Exit Macdonald. 
Rustan, tell Constant to come here and quickly. 

{Exit Rustan. 
A little while — or years- — what can it matter? ^^ 
In politics there is no resurrection. ^^^^ 
In war, defeat is but the prelude and the 
Discipline before success. In love — why, love 
Itself consists of vacillation and of 
Failures, surviving all catastrophes, save 
The one fatal danger of calm possession. 
But he who falls from favour with the people 
Has fallen forever ! The people never 
Laugh at puppets after they have caught sight once 
Of the trickery of wire-pulling by which 
They are moved ! The people welcome mounte- 
banks 



NAPOLEON. 191 



But once. This blast Las blown aside my curtains! 
The people have now seen their idol naked. 
In politics there is no resurrection. 

Enter Constant and .Kustan. 

Co)tstant. 
To serve you, Sire 

Napoleon. 
Constant, where is the poniard ? 

Constant. 
What poniard, Sire ? ^^"^ 

Napoleon. 

Why, the Arabian poniard, 
Blockhead, which I commanded you to leave here. 

Co7}stant. 
It was so dull that I had taken it, Sire, 
To have it edged 

Najyoleon. 

Bring* it at once, and next time 
Sharpen your wits instead. Where are my pistols ? 

Con dan t. 
Here, Sire, upon the table. 

NojXjleon. 

Load them and go ! 
{Exit Constant— ?v'/i/r>/.s' ivdh the pKm'uird. 



192 NAPOLEON. 



(Constant goes toward the door.) 
Constaut ! 

Gonstcmt. 
Sire? 

Na2:)oleon. 
Your house is not in good repair? 

Co?ista?it. 
Falling* to jDieces, Sire. 

Napoleon. 
{Musing.) Like mine, Constant. 

Constant. 

Sire ? 
Napoleon. 
You will receive the sum of fifty thousand 
Francs — ^^ 

Constant. 
This terrifies me, Sire ; what does it mean ? 

Napoleon. 
You are forgetting to load the pistols now : 
Load them and go. Has no word yet arrived from 
Malmaison ? 

(Constant loads the pistols.) 

Constant. 
No word has come as yet, Sire. 



NAPOLEON. 193 



Nai^oleoii. 

Go! 
[Exit Constant. 

Rustaii hears clanger ! Eustaii bears woman's step ! 

Napoleon. 

If it be she of w]]om we spoke, admit her. 

[A knock u heard.) 
Rustan, obey me ! Admit her instantl3% 

(RusTAN opens the door, through icJiich Mme. 
Walewska, closely veiled, rushes to Napo- 
leon. ) 
Marie ! At hast ! At hist ! I had begun to 
Think that you had failed me as the rest all have. 

Mme. Walewska. 

I can remain a moment only, Sire, and 

From that moment I must keep all myself out ; 

It is of Josephine that I have come to 

Speak. This moment, I am told, ma}- be our last 

Together, heart of my heart, life of my soul ; 

But I must not speak of myself — don't make me ! 

Napoleon. 

Speak as you will, I care not since you are here. 

{In his arms.) 
Of Josephine — yes, speak of her. She is well? 



194 NAPOLEON. 



Mme. Walewska. 
You bad not heard ? She is dying, Sire- 



Napoleon. 

Good God ! 
Mine. Walewska. 
She has been failing for two months 

Napoleon. 

Exactly 
The same time that fortune fled from my armies. ^^^ 

Mme. Walewska. 
Two days ago she utterly gave up 



Napoleon. 

Just 
At the moment that the capital of France 
Was taken. 

Mme. Walewska. 

To-day she hovers between life '^•' 
And death. She will not live to see the sun set. 

Napoleon. 
Then before sunset I shall have fallen too. 
And how in this last hour of it, does my jDOor 
Josephine comport herself ? 

AInie. Walewska. 

Unspeakably, 
Majestically : so sweet ! so womanly ! 



NAPOLEON. 105 



And, Sire, to tbe last labouring heart-beat sLe 
Is yours ! 

Najmleon. 

Go to her — go at once — go madly ! 
And fill np these remaining moments of her 
Grief with my repentant and devoted tears. 
Go ! Go ! And tell Josephine, my star, that I 
Am true to her in destiny, and that when 
She to-day breaks from this cursed prison-house 
To throw herself upon the rest eternal, 
Tell her, that at that moment will the Empire 
Fall, and I be trami3led in the dust of death. 
Go, Marie, go, without another word. Go ! 

(M:\iE. Walewska goen to the door — return,^ — 

hangs convulsively upon Napoleon, aiid then 

hurriedly exit.) 

Enter Caul.aincoukt. 

Caulai?i court. 
Worthier lips than mine have told you all, Sire ? 

Napoleon. 
Give me a moment's peace, Caulaincourt, can't you ? 
Forgive me. You were at Malmaison. You know. 
No wonder that all efforts proved so futile ! 
You saw her : she is dying— she — Caulaincourt, 
Josephine is 

Enter Macdonald a7ul Ney. 

Macdonald, Ney, — you have heard ? 



196 NAPOLEON. 



Ney. 
Yes, Sire. You are now prepared to abdicate? 

Naj'ioleon. 
AiiytlnDg — Josephine is dying. — My pen ! 

[Fijids that he cannot write legil)ly.) 
I cannot write my own humiliation. 
Macdonald, Ney, one of you write it for me. 

{Macdoncdd prepares to write — waits.) 
Go on ! Go on ! 

Macdonald. 
But what to say. Sire — the words ? 

Napoleon. 
Give me the pen ! I cannot dictate m.y shame. ^^^ 
(Sits and writes rapidly, throws paper toward 

Ney.) 
Read it, Ney, read ! 

Ney. 

(Reads.) "The Allied Powers having 

Declared that the Emperor Napoleon is 
The only obstacle — " 

(Breaks down.) 

Macdonald. 

Permit us, Sire, to read 
It one by one silently. 

(Reads.) Here, Caulaincourt. 

(Caulaincourt reads it — then Ney — all shake their 
heads. ) 



NAPOLEON. 191 



Napoleo)}. 
I hope that you are satisfied now, Messieurs ! '^^ 

CauJaincourt. 
Sire, this will not do. It will not be received. 

Napoleon. 
In heaven's name, why ? 

CauJaincourt. 

It is not absolute. ^^ 

N'ei/. 
You abdicate in favour of your son, Sire. ^^^ 

MacdonalcL 
And you appoint the Empress to be regent. ^''^ 

Caulaincourt. 
And, Sire ■ 

Napoleon. 
{Fiercely.) 

Away ! Why do you not direct me 

To abdicate in favour of the Bourbons, 

And be done with it ? I abdicate for France ; 

And not to mate way for the immediate 

Return of Louis the Eighteenth ! No ! No ! My 

Son shall sit upon my Imperial throne. 

Macclonald. 
But, Sire, your words are vague. " The Emperor 
declares 



198 NAPOLEON. 



That he is ready to descend from the throne." 
That will not do. That is no abdication, 
But merely an expression of readiness. ^'-'^ 

Ney. 
The Allies \Yill not entertain an}^ such ^^'' 

Napoleon. 
I am not abdicating at the instance 
Nor on the terms of any of the Allies. 
It is to Frenchmen that I address my words : 
It is to save France from bloody civil war. 
Go with this paper to the Provisional 
Government, for I shall sign no other — no ! 

Gaulaincourt. 
And failing to secure acceptance for it ? 

Napoleon. 
Be men again ! Appear before your soldiers ! 
They burn to strike another blow for glory. 

Ney. 
As I shall show before I die, no other ^^^ 
Loves you as I do, Sire. You know that my love 
For 3'our person is equal to my love for 
France. Can I say more? Then by that love I 

swear. 
That if you draw your sword, I shall draw my sword, 
But prove myself thereby the foe of Frenchmen. 



NAPOLMON. 199 



Ncq^oleon. 
Go ! And return immediately — my friends. 

(Napoleon affectionately embraces them. They 
reach the door.) 
Hold! Give me back tliat fatal abdication ! 
I utterly repudiate it. It is ^''^ 
False ! I am the Emperor. My loyal Guard ^^^ 
Lies camped about me, mighty, invincible ! 
Let me appear upon that balcony, and 
With a look I can arouse those old watch-dogs 
Of mine into a fury that would lick up 
The Allies, were they ten million strong. Give me 
The abdication ! I am Emperor still ! 

{The Marshals ho^o, filled with emotion, but they 
do not give back tlie paper. Exeunt. 

(Napoleon falls into a 7^everie before the fire.) 

Enter Constant on tip-toe. 

Constant. 
{In a lohisper to Eustan.) 
He means to kill himself. Be quick and help me.^^*' 
(Constant unloads the ^nstols, and gives the Ara- 
bian p)oniard to Rustan, loho hides it. TJiey 
search for other loeapons.) 
If he stirs, call me. I shall be close at hand. 

{Exit Constant. 
Xapoleon. 
Eustan, tell Constant to come here. 



200 NxiPOLEON. 



Bustan. 

At once, Sire. 
{Exit Rust AN. 
Napoleon. 
Berthier a traitor ! Marmont as good as lost ! 
Murat and Caroline, Talleyrand, Fouclie ! 
And these who yet remain are cowards, cowards ! 
Where is young France ? Young France is here, 

eagerly 
Waiting for me to lead it on to glory ! ^^' 
These Marshals are all men stuffed with successes, 
All surfeited with honours. But there are men. 
One hundred thousand young men around me now. 
I will appeal to them ! 

{Drama and inarchwg heard.) 

Hark ! The Guards go by ! 
{He springs to the balcony — tJiey cheer.) 

Enter Constant and Rust an. 

Constant. 
You have commands, Sire? 

N'apoleon. 

Constant, the Aide-de-Cctrnp 
On duty will go at once to Marmont's corps ^^^ 
And summon Marmont instantl}^ Go at once ! 

{Eait Constant. 
{More drums are heard.) 



NAPOLEON. 201 



It would be sacrilege to falter while those 
Hearts beat. Old Guard ! Old battalioDs of hon- 
our ! 

Enter Constant. 

Constant, the Aide-de-Camp, has he returned yet? 

Con dan t. 
He has this moment gone, Sire — 

Niipoleon. 

Malediction ! 
Then send another Aide-de-Camp after him. 
Vihj do you stand there, fool? Do as I tell you. 

[EjoU Constant. 
Now we shall see whether a petty handful 
Of Russiai] slaves, of Bourbon exiles, Prussian 
Thieves, can overturn the will of Destiny ! 

Enter Marshals Ney and Macdonald, and Caul.ain- 

COURT. 

Najjoleon. 
Well? Well? You look like baffled lovers, not 
men. 

Macdonald. 

Sire, it is as we all feared 

Nei/. 

Abdication ! 

Caulaincourt. 
Absolute abdication without recourse. 



202 JV". 1 POLEON. 



Napoleon. 
Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! Old women ! 
Out! Out! Out! Out! you pack of chicken- 
livers ! 

Gaulai7icourt. 
There is no argument in calling bad names, 
Sire — the facts are as we state them. It is now 
For you to say whether the fields of sunny 
France shall once more swim with the blood of 

Frenchmen. 
You abdicate, or civil war must follow. 

Ncq^toleon. 
And I suppose that you have taken good care 
To make your timely bow to the new powers ! 
What was the ceremony ? Were you compelled 
To kiss Monsieur de TallejTand's fat hand ? 

Ney. 

Sire ! 

3Iacdo'/iald. 

Sire, we three came to a very different 

Conclusion. Outside that door there, the moment 

That we left you, we took an oath upon our 

Sword-hilts, Sire 

JVopoleon. 
'' To let your beards grow and take the 
Dagger ? " ^^ Corsicans take that oath, Macdonald, 
When perfidy beyond the common tempts them. 



NAPOLEON. 20: 



Caidaincourt. 
Sire, the oath we took upon our sword-hilts was 
That, come what would, we would obey 3'our orders 
To the last. Yes ! give the word, and we shall stand 
Once more before the loj^al columns of our 
Men, and we shall follow 3'ou ! We shall not shrink, 
Nor fail, nor cry for quarter ; but strike, strike, strike, 
Until there is not left a living man to 
Strike for you ! 

Napoleon. 
Stop ! Caulaincourt, stop ! I cannot 
j\[eet such gratitude, such loyalty. Traitors 
I can defy — but in this hour, a friend is 
More than I can grapple with. You took that oath ? 
And you, too, Ney ? 
{They how assent.) 

And you, Macdonahl ? 

Macdo}iald. 

Yes, Sire ! 
Napoleon. 
Dictate, then, what you will and I will sign it. 
To the remotest generation let men ~"^ 
Know, that they were liars all who ever said, 
That I loved myself first, my country last. No ! 
It was to make France glorious, that I have 
Single-handed battled against the world. And 
Now that France prefers to shrivel up into 



204 NAPOLEON. 



The i^altry territory allo\Yed her by 

Her enemies, I must submit. Dictate, Ney ! 

Ney. 
Command, Sire, wliat you will except this duty. 

NaiDoleon. 
I will with my own hand show France my heart- ache. 
Give me the paper — the one 1 sent to them. 

[They return the first abdication — he reads it.) 
To what did they object most strenuously ? 

Ney. 
To the provision that your son succeed you. 

Napoleon. 
Oh ! Josephine ! It was because you could not 
Bear a son, that I divorced you. The Empress 
Who supplanted you bore me this son, and now 
The irony of Fate compels me to — 
{Breaks down.) 

Gaidaincoiirt. 

Sire ! 
Na'poleon. 
Come — come, an end of this ! The}' wish no more 

than 
That I abdicate ? — My person, what will be 
Done with me ? Attended you to this — trifle ? -^^ 

Macdonald. 
Sire, your dignity and safety were our first 



NAPOLEON. 205 



Thouglit. The imperial title will remain 
Your own, and Elba will be recognized by 
All the powers as your dominiqn. 

Napoleon. 

Elba? 
{3 fuses a long while.) 
Elba, you say, Macdonald ? If I mistake -^- 
Not, it is a place of great strategic strength. 
Yes, Elba will do. Strategy ! Strategy ! 

[He writes the abdication.) 
But, Caulaincourt, did you explain to them my 
Overtures? Did you not show them that even 
Yet I can collect our men and drive the whole 
Force of the enemy bej'ond the Rhine ? ^^ 

Caulaincourt. 

Yes, 
Sire, I did. 

Napoleon. 
And they said what ? 

Caulaincourt. 

They laughed, they jeered. 

Napoleon. 
Who? Who, Caulaincourt, rejected scornfully? 

Caulaincourt. 
Foucli6 ! -^'O' 



206 NAPOLEON. 



Napoleon. 
Again Fouclie ? If but to blast liim — 
I will not abdicate ! God's wounds ! Am I to 
Be jeered at by hell's own vermin ? Perdition ! 

Macdonald. 
Sire, the moments %. France looks to you for help. 

Napoleon. 
And not in vain, Macdonald. Take it. It is 
My absolute, my fatal abdication. ~^^ 

(He collapses into the chair. The three Generals 
loithdraw sorroiofully. Rustan steals out 
secretly. Y^^ 
The sun has set. Josephine's soul breaks now from 
Out this pestilential prison-house of Earth, 
And darkness everlasting falls upon me. 
It must be death ! 

[He takes one of the pistfJs out of the case.) 
Why did I not die that day 
At xircis-sur-Aube? Or at the fatal bridge 
At Areola ?-^'^' 

(He examines the pistol.) ' 

Not loaded yet ? That villain 
Plays unconsciously into the hands of Fate. 
Powder and ball are powerless against me. 

(Throws away the pistol.) 
It were ungrateful, too, to pass into the 
Everlasting consolation of the night '^^ 



NAPOLEON. 20^ 



Without some word of courage to poor Marie. 
The love of woman only keeps God on earth. 

[Writes hadily.) 
And to the Empress, also, should I now write. 
She has done nobly well. She has borne the son 
For whom I wedded her, and she has never 
In her life complained : therefore she is indeed 
A perfect woman. '-^^'^ 
{Writes to her.) 

To Josephine — I go ! 
(Rises and looks for the poniard. Finds that 
Rust AN is not at his post.) 
Rustan fled also ? Then loyalty is dead. 
Then it must be the poison which I have had''^ 
Secreted on my person all these long years ! 
Close to my heart I have hugged Death's own image, 

{Takes a small 2^0 uch out from his breast.) 
Knowing the hour would come when I should need a 
Friend. That hour has come ! 
{Takes the poison.) 

Into the liands of God ! 
{He crosses himself — sinks upon the sofa — night 
fdls. After a few minutes the agony caused 
by tlie poison begins.) 

Enter Constant. 

Constant. 
Merciful heavens ! The Emperor is dead ! 
{At the door.) 



\ 



208 NAPOLEON. 



Help ! help ! Somebody fetch Doctor Yvan ! ~'^ 

{He returns and tries to rouse Napoleon.) 
Sire ! Sire ! It is Constant who speaks. Sire, awake ! 

Enter Yvan, Caulaincourt, and Attendants. 

Ft'7??. 

Is it a wound ? a shot ? Who knows abont it ? 
Undo his clothing instantly. Begone, you ! 

(Servants exeunt- 
Constant. 
With Monsieur's pardon, it is not any wound. 
The Emperor has taken poison. 

Yvan. 

Poison ? 

Constayit. 
From this bag which he wore always hung about 
His neck. Smell it ! Examine it ! I always 
Feared that it contained some deadly chemical. 

Yvan. 
I gave it to the Emperor myself some -^^ 
Time ago. It must have lost much of its power. 
Air, there — open the window, so ! And, Constant, 
Bring my medicines at once — the black camp-chest 
Which my valet will give you. Quick ! 

(They raise Napoleon and try to revive him.) 

Napoleon. 
{PartloUij conscious.) Caulaincourt ! 



NAPOLKOy. 209 



Caulalncourt. 
What have you done, Sire ? 

Napoleon. 

You see I cannot die ! '^^^ 
They have been tampering with Death, and Death has 
Joined the Bourbons and will not help me. Yvan ! 

YvaiK 
It is I, Sire. How are you feeling now, Sire ? 

Napoleon. 
Give me your arm ! So. 
{^Rlaes.) 

Take me to Josephine ! 

Caulalncourt.. 
You are not well enough yet, Sire. 

Yvan. 

To-morrow. 
(Bugles are heard.) 

Napoleon. 
They change the watch. The Guard ! The Guard ! 
I hear them. 
(Tries to go to the window.) 

Giulaincourt. 
There is to be a G'l'and review to morrow. '-'" 



210 NAPOLEON. 



Napoleon. 
Till then, I beg you leave me. I shall not die. 
Go, Caulaincourt, Yvan. Leave me, I pray you. 

(YvAN motions to Caulaincourt and they quietly 
go Old. Drums are heard.) 

Napoleon. 
{Going to the bcdcony.) 
Farewell ! Farewell ! Your Emperor says farewell ! 
[Re returns to the fireplace.) 



Curtain. 



l^OTES. 



' Napoleon witli his wife and immediate attendants went 
to Malmaison on Sunday, March 18, 1804, and remained 
there one week. It was on the night of the 20th that 
D'Enghien was shot. {Thiers: Consulate and the Empire.) 
For the substantial accuracy of this scene, consult Thiers^ 
Saint- Amand^ Bourrienne, and Be Remnsat. 

- Napoleon shut himself up alone ; would speak to no 
one; wrote no letters. {Thiers.) 

"Napoleon, noticing Mme. de Remusat's paleness, said to 
her : " Why didn't you rouge ? " {Be Remnsat.) 

^ '^ My mother was in tears." {Eugene de Beaiiharnais.) 

^ "' Nothing can equal the stupor which reigned at Mal- 
maison." {Pasquier.) 

^ Sir Walter Scott's account of the 18th Brumaire gives 
the details of Lucien Bonaparte's very effective assistance. 
{Life of Napoleon. ) 

" Lucien was in the habit of reminding him of them [his 
services] in an aggressive manner." {Be Remusat.) 

'' Many years after this, when Napoleon was at the zenith, 
Lucien rejected tempting offers with the words : " My prin- 
ciples are still the same." {B' Ahrantes.) 

* Pasquier, without hesitation, calls the execution of 
D'Enghien *• a murder." {Memoirs.) 

^ Referring to the plot of Georges Cadoudal, and the epi- 
sode of the " Infernal Machine." {Thiers et al.) 

'" " Must I rely on myself ? I shall suffice ! " {Be Remu- 
sat.) 



213 NOTES. 



" lie only can protect himself, etc." {D''Ahr antes.) 

" I owe this conceit to Saint Amand. {The Wife of the 
First Consul.) 

'- Saint-Amand's is a most graphic account of the scene of 
D'Enyhien's execution. ( Wife of the First Consul.) 

^•' It seemed the more revolting- duty to impose upon 
Caulaincourt, in that he was "' attached by consanguinity to 
the ex-royal family, and especially to the Condes." {Thiers.) 

'* Napoleon sent Real the night before the execution with 
sealed orders which would have delayed that fatal conclu- 
sion ; by an errour the messag-e was not delivered until it was 
too late. ( Thiers. ) 

15 " From that moment [when on D'Enghien's death, 
Napoleon determined to become Emperor] a cloud hangs 
over his star. . . . Josephine had a loresentiment of 
this. . . . filled her with a secret dread." {Saint- 
Amand.) 

'*^ The use of " Citizen " and " Citizeness" ended in a few 
weeks after this. Napoleon formally discarded the use on 
May 18, 1804. {De Remusat.) 

'^ Constant speaks of his difficulty in shaving Napoleon, 
having frequently almost cut hitn, etc., etc. {Memoirs) 

'^ Josephine says: '• I hung about his neck," etc. {Saint- 
Am and.) 

'^ Four years before this Josephine had said "I beg of 
you. don't be a King ! " {Saint- Amand.) 

'■" Napoleon's words were : " This is not women's busi- 
ness." {Pusquier.) 

-' See Napoleon's Letters (to Josephine), and especially 
those written in his earlier campaigns, for evidences of his 
jealousy. 

-■-' As to the errour, see note 14, 

-•' Napoleon's expression verhaiim. {Thiers.) 

■-■* Josephine passed a troubled night. " She became hys- 
terical," and plied Napoleon with anxious questions. {Pa>i- 
qnitr.) 



NOTES. 213 



-^Napoleon's very words: "My star arose at Areola." 
{Sain t-Amand. ) 

'^'^ For the various sentiments here expressed see Napo- 
leon's Letters. 

-^ "Imagination rules the world ; " words used by Napo- 
leon at St. Helena. 

-^ The First Consul had by degrees ignored the other two 
Consuls, as well as the constitutional legislature; but Napo- 
leon was uneasy in lawlessness. {Thiei's, Scott.) 

-'■'Poor Caulaincourt was at once held in the most uujust 
contenapt. {Be Reiausdt.) 

^^ As a soldier Caulaincourt manfully obeyed — against his 
natural instincts and personal feelings. {Thiers.) 

■" This refers to the letter which Real failed to deliver. 
(See Note 14 suf>ra.) 

^^ " D'Enghien's blood must remain indelibly upon Na- 
poleon." {Scott.) 

^" Caulaincourt, according to Mme. de Kemusat, was one 
of that "small number who told Napoleon the truth." 
{Memoirs. ) 

^^ This was undoubtedly Napoleon's object. (Scott.) 

"'" Caulaincourt was extremely sad when ordered to arrest 
D'Enghien. {Thiers.) 

'■'^ " He expressed his indignation so forcibly," says Pas- 
quier, on this occasion, " that those present hardly knew 
what countenance to assume." {Memoirs.) 

"^'' All of Napoleon's sisters intrigued against Josephine. 
{Be Remusat.) 

•^* Mme. Murat had many grievances against Josephine, 
soon to grow into mortal hatred owing to the slights shown 
by the Emperor. {Thiers.^ Sdint-Amand, et al.) 

•■'^ This slander was assiduously spread. {Saint- Amatid.) 
Utterly without foundation. {Sir Walter Scott.) 

'•^ " . . . . here was public opinion escaping fiom his 
hold." {De Remusat.) 

■*' On the relations of Fouchc and Talleyrand to Napoleon 



214 NOTES. 



and to each other, consult Pasquier's finely discriminating 
study. {Memoirs.) 

'*■' Napoleon said this of Metternich, {De Remnsat.) Fouche 
favoured the immediate setting up of the Empire, {Thief's.) 

^■' Pasquier calls Talleyrand, " Chaplain of all the immo- 
ralities.'' {Memoirs.) 

^^ One of Talleyrand's recorded bon-mots. {De Rhmisat.) 

''^ Chateaubriand resigned on the day following. {De Remu- 
sat.) 

^® This tirade against Talleyrand was literally pronounced 
by Napoleon. {Pasquier.) 

'^' Napoleon to the last charged Talleyrand with having 
secretly urged the execution of D'Eughien. {Las Cases and 
G'Meara.) 

'^^ Napoleon complained that it was **hard to find in one's 
own family such stubborn opposition . . . [but] you, 
Josephine, — you will be my comfort always." {De Remusat.) 

4^ Precisely such an offer was made by Napoleon to Lucien 
at a subsequent time, and in like manner was it refused. 
{D' Abr antes.) 

°o This was literally Lucien' s speech and action. {D^Abran- 
tes.) 

°i The Pope was lodged in that wing of the Tuileries 
called the Pavilion of Flora. {Thiers.) 

^-'Napoleon fairly snatched the crown to prevent the Pope 
from crowning him. {Thiers, Saint- Amand.) 

^■5 It was a chief claim of the Mediajval Papacy, that 
earthly crowns were at its bestowal. {Bryce's Holy Roman 
Em^nre.) 

^^ Nothing is more unusual than for a Pope to leave Rome. 
Pius VII. did so against the advice of his cardinals, and with 
fear and trembling. {Thiers^ Scott.) 

aa —Josephine dated Napoleon's overthrow from the as- 
sumption of the imperial crown. {Saint- Amand.) She said, 
" I knew he was lost from the hour he made himself Em- 
peror. '' {Bourrienne. ) 



JVOTES. 215 



^*^ " . . . the moment which dispelled all her incessant 
dread of divorce," was that in which Josephine was crowned 
by Napoleon. {Saint- Amand.) 

^■' An ancient title of the Popes. 

^® Talleyrand was formerly Bishop of Autun. {Thiers.) 

^^ Napoleon's sisters, Caroline and Pauline, out of envious 
spite, dropped Josephine's train at the very altar, and a 
serious break would have occurred had not Napoleon sternly 
rebuked them then and there. {Saint- Amnnd.) 

•"^ The question of the succession, while technically settled 
among the nephews of Napoleon, was never accepted as 
final, and proved the cause of bitter family dissensions. 
{De Remusat.) 

^' By law the priest of the parish must witness a mar- 
riage. On the whole matter see a note giving authorities in 
Bourrienne. {Memoirs, Vol. II.) 

^'■^ The Pope was scandalized on learning that Napoleon 
and Josephine had never been ecclesiastically married. 
{Thiers.) 

^^ They were secretly married at the Tuileries by Cardinal 
Fesch on the eve of the coronation, Talleyrand and Berthier 
being the only witnesses. {Thiers.) 

*'^ Saint-Amand gives a detailed description of the corona- 
tion robes, and also the dress of the court pages, etc. {Court 
of the Empress Josephine : Sckibner's. ) 

^'^ To the lasting credit of Cardinal Fesch, he sided 
throughout with the Pope against his all-powerful nephew. 
{Bourrienne.) 

^''Josephine became devoutly attached to the Pope. {Pas- 
quier. ) 

^" The Pope wore a plain white woollen cassock. {De 
Bhnusat. ) 

^^ The quarrel between the Pope and Napoleon broke out 
at once. {Pasquier.) 

^^ Napoleon had solemnly promised to allow the Pope to 
crown him. {Saint-Amand.) 



216 NOTES. 



''^ See Sir Walter Scott's account of the Papal relation lo 
coronations. {Life of Nrqwleon.) 

'' The Pope's contention was just. See the letter of Car- 
dinal Consalvi, quoted by Saint- Amand. {Jose2')Jwie.) 

"'■ Segur was the Grand Master of Cereiuonies, but Talley- 
rand was looked upon as the authority on all points of eti- 
quette. [De Remuf<(it.) 

'^ For the Coronation ceremonies and the reconstruction 
of the Court, the whole literature of etiquette was ransacked. 
{Saint- Amnnd.) 

"'^ The Pope always called Josephine " our dear dau<jhter." 
{Saint- Amand. ) 

''° Josephine pleaded, in some instances successfully, for 
the pardon of those who were implicated in the conspiracies 
unearthed shortly before the coronation. {Thiers, De Remu- 
sat, et al. ) 

^^ Napoleon retired from, his wretched winter- quarters at 
Osterode to the castle of Finkenstein the firtt of April, 1807, 
and there received the beautiful Polish Countess Walewska. 
{Bourrienne.) 

" Napoleon speaks of the comfort of his open fires at 
Finkenstein. {Letters to Josephine.) 

''^Napoleon sent to Warsaw for Mme. Walewska. {Con- 
stant.) 

"^ His valet complains of the difficulty of shaving Napo- 
leon, but boasts, nevertheless, that he never cut him. {Con- 
stant.) 

^■'^It pleased Napoleon to find that his blundering orders, 
given when absent-minded, were not obeyed. {Boiirrienne.) 

*^ This part of the scene is from lively details given by 
Saint- Amand. {Josephine.) 

*'- Bourrienne gives account of the meeting of Napoleon 
and Countess Walewska at a ball in Warsaw as does Mme. 
de Remusat. {Memoirs.) 

*'^ Napoleon had a fine apartment at Finkenstein, adjoining 
his own, fitted up for his mistress. {Bourrienne.) 



NOTES. 217 



^^ The Duchess of Abrantes loyally denies that Junot, her 
husband, was tale-bearer ; but he is commonly thought to 
have advised Napoleon of Josephine's light conduct. {Mem- 
oirs. ) 

®^ Napoleon's orders were, that only bad news should be 
told him at night — good news could wait. {Bourrieiine.) 

^^ To the privileged valet we are indebted for our knowl- 
edge of the bearing and nature of this most pathetic and 
lovable girl. [Constant.) 

^" It has been hoped in this song to catch the spirit of the 
Polish heart— the weird-warm mixture of a northern race 
with a southern soul. 

^^ Josephine accused Napoleon during this absence of not 
reading her letteis,a charge from which he defends himself. 
{Letters. ) 

^^ This summer of 1807 was the high-noon of the Empire. 
On August 15th (Napoleon's birthday) a splendid fete was 
given at Fontainebleau. {Saird-Amand.) 

^^ The loving Mme. de Remusat was all for peace and 
good- will. {Letter of Talleyrand,- De Remusat.) 

^' I owe the phrase to Saint- Ainand. {Jose-pldne.) 

°'' The little son of Hortense and Louis Bonaparte, then 
queen and king of Holland, had died onlj^ a few months be- 
fore, namely, on the oth May, 1807. {Saint- Amand.) 

^•^ Refers to the wretched married life of Hortense. {De 
Remusat.) 

"' Napoleon honoured Hortense above all women. {De Re- 
musat, ) 

^° This devotion to the girl led scandal mongers to attrib- 
ute it to a criminal relation with her. Sir Walter Scott, 
no lover of Napoleon, meets all these charges against Napo- 
leon's family life with scornful denials. {Ijife of Na-poleon, 
also, De Remusat.) 

^'^ Napoleon's other amours were very transient affairs. 
{Scott.) 

'" Countess Walewska was, according to Mme. Jnnot. 



218 NOTES. 



" the only woman Napoleon ever really loved." {Me- 
moirs. ) 

^^ Napoleon actually introduced Mme. Walewska at Court, 
and provided quarters for her at Saint Cloud. {De Remusnt.) 

^^ Almost literally Napoleon's complaint. {Saint- Amand.) 

^o*^Mme. Murat was the first to discern the Emperor's rela- 
tions with Countess Walewska, and made good use of her 
knowledge in her back stairs warfare. {De Ilemusat.) 

^"' Napoleon, unlike his Bourbon predecessors, believed in 
kings publicly appearing virtuous. {Las Cases.) 

10- The gallantries of M. de Talleyrand are historical, 
{Pasquier.) 

^02 See the terrible record of duplicity and shame given by 
Chancellor Pasquier. {Memoirs. ) 

^o-'Mrae. Murat had succeeded in "fascinating M. Fou- 
che,'' and was " worming out of him '' the points she needed. 
{I)e Remusat.) 

'"^ Napoleon's exact words : "as sweet to me as Joseph- 
ine's voice." {Saint- Amand.) 

'°*^ It was Mme. de Stael who asked these questions and 
received these answers, at the ball at which she first met Na- 
poleon. {Mme. de Stael.) 

^"^ Napoleon's very words, spoken at Helena. {Las Cases.) 

108 "Europe is a molehill," said Napoleon. {Saint- 
Amand.) 

^^^ See Saint- Amand. {Citizeness BeauJiarnais.) 

no From a letter of Napoleon to Louis in 1807. 

Ill " Louis XVIIL is a principle." {Bourrienne.) 

"■-'Napoleon on his death-bed said, " Not every one who 
would be, is an atheist." {AntomarcJiVs Supplement to Las 
Cases. ) 

11-^ " That sacramental phrase, ' My Policy^'' '' was all-pow- 
erful. {De Remusat.) 

I'l Josephine began calling Napoleon " Sire,'' at this time. 
{Saint- Amand.) 

11^ Rumours of divorce were now general. {Mme. Junot.) 



NOTES. 219 



'"'Napoleon called Fouche " a miscreant of all colours." 
{Memorial of St. Helena.) 

"■^ I owe the phrase to Mme, Junot, who applied it to Na- 
poleon. {Memoirs.) 

118 ii Hortense makes me believe in virtue/' said Napoleon. 
{Saint- Amand.) 

"^This is a literal translation of the note written by Na- 
poleon. {De Remiisat.) 

'■•'Must such a nocturnal expedition was undertaken by 
Josephine and Mme. de Remusat — without results. {De Re- 
musat.) 

'-' Josephine's very words as to Rustan. {De Bemiisat.) 
'-'-Talleyrand's life, according to Pasquier, was "conse- 
crated to obscure intrigues." {Memoirs.) 

'^•^ Napoleon's son by Countess AValewska was born in 
Paris {De Remusat), and went with his mother to visit Na- 
poleon at Elba. {Sir Walter Scott.) 

'-•* Napoleon made just such a proposition to Josephine. 
{De Remusat.) 

'■-5 The famous Corvisart refused as a physician to coun- 
tenance the infamous hoax. {De Remusat. ) 

'-^ On another occasion Napoleon said that " love is a pas- 
sion which sets all the universe on one side, and on the other 
the beloved object." {De Remusat.) 

'■■^' It was in a gallery with embrasured windows at Fon- 
tainebleau that Fouche made the fatal announcement to 
Josephine. (Scott.) 

'■-« A mot indicative of his character is Fouchc's famous : 
*' It is worse than a crime— it is a blunder." {Scott.) 

'-3 Napoleon himself declared that he would be vinable 
to be firm in the face of Josephines affliction, {De Re- 
musat.) 

'30 No doubt there was reason in the feeling', that an heir 
was essential to the Imperial fortunes. {Thiers.) 

'31 " I am your wife," was Josephine's sufficient argument. 
{De Remusat.) 



220 NOTES. 



13-2 ti J sij^ii never have the strength to oblige you to leave 
me," confessed Napoleon. {De Renin sat.) 

^^•^ Napoleon used these words speaking of Josephine at St. 
Helena. {Las Cases.) 

"^ I borrow the phrase from Saint- Amand. {Memoirs.) 

^"^ Napoleon's letters to Josephine teem with cruel charges 
born of his jealous nature. 

^■^*^ For some years Napoleon was indeed the more ardent 
lover of the two. {Saint- Amand.) 

'■" There were not wanting those to keep the absent Na- 
poleon posted in the scandals at home, {Mme. Junot.) 

^•''^ According to the Duchess of Abrantes there is no doubt 
of Josephine's intrigue with M. Charles, Pasqaier, more- 
over, substantiates the charge of her immorality, and speaks 
of Josephine's infidelities in the plural. {Memoirs.) 

^33 " Just ten days after," says Sir Walter Scott. {Life of 
Napoleon. ) 

"" It had not been decided yet that the Austrian Princess, 
Marie Louise, was to supplant Josephine. {Thiers.) 

'^' Such was Napoleon's superstitious, but very real, belief 
as to his relations to Josephine. {Thiers, Pasquier, et al.) 

^•^'- Napoleon's very words — stranger yet, his very belief, 
{De llemusat.) 

1-*"^ This is a literal extract from the letter written at Ver- 
ona, November, 1796. {Bourrienne.) 

^^* For these details see Bourrienne. {Memoirs.) 

^*° Extracts from a letter written on November 28, 1806, 
while Napoleon was in Poland. {Saint- Amand.) 

"'^ One of Napoleon's generals testified to the influence of 
the beauties of Poland over the French officers. {Savary.) 

^*' These words are from a letter written by Napoleon at 
Porto Maurizio, April 3d, 1796. {Saint- Amand.) 

^^^ From a long letter written at Tortona, June 15, 1796. 
{Saint- Amand.) 

'■^^ " He caught Josephine in his arms, and told her, in a 



NOTES. 22\ 



burst of tenderness, that he should never have the strength 
to part from her." {liners.) 

'^*' The Moniteur for December 17, 1809, contains the 
sublimely pathetic words of Josephine hj which she offered 
herself in sacrifice to France, to " his policy," and to her 
devotion to her husband. (Quoted b}- Scott, note.) 

^'' For the ofRcial form of Josephine's self renunciation, 
consult Sir Walter Scott. {Tdfe of Napoleon.) 

'^- " She fell into a long- and profound swoon." (Scott.) 

'^■^Read Saint-Amand on Malmaisou. {Court of the Em- 
2')}' ess.) 

'^^ After Josephine's divorce she became reconciled to the 
Countess AValewska and received her at Mahnaison. {l)e 
Remusat.) 

'^^ The troubled nights, bad dreams, and dark hours of 
the outcast Empress have been graphically pictured. {Avril- 
Uoii.) 

^'"^ On her death-bed Josephine said : " Xapoleon is in dis- 
tress and I cannot be with him." {Saint- Ama i id.) 

''■" Caulaincourt was devoted to Josephine. 

'^* The Allies entered Paris on March 30, 1814, the capit- 
ulation was signed at two in the morning of the 31st. 
{D'Abranth.) 

'^^On his way to Paris Napoleon met General Belliard a 
few miles from the city, at an inn called La Cour de France, 
retreating with his cavalry. After learning of the complete 
overthrow he went back to Fontainebleau. {Scott.) 

'®'J Caulaincourt was sent to Paris to beg terms from the 
triumphant Allies. {Scott.) 

'**' This was a small apartment up-stairs chosen by Napo- 
leon. The little yellow sofa and mahogany table are histor- 
ical. {Bourrienne, Saint- Ama nd, etc.) 

"^■- Save that the Duke of Bassano was also present, our 
scene is true to the facts. {Bourrienne, Junot., Scott, Ilazlitt, 
et nl. ) 

'*'■* The very words spoken to Xapoloon. IT Al>rantes.) 



NOTES. 



iti4 ipjjg action of the Marshals was brave and loyal. 
{Bourrienne.) 

^'^^ Macdonaid performed this great feat. {B'Abr antes.) 

'^•^ Napoleon was immensely outnumbered. {TJders.) 

'•''' These impulsive orders were given by Napoleon under 
the sting of chagrin and thwarted ambition {Scott.) 

'"^ Marmont's defection is a most interesting episode, and 
it would seem that he was not a traitor. {Bourrienne.) 

'*'^ The case of Berthier was different. He assured Na- 
poleon of his devotion, and the same day made his weak 
submission to the new government. {B'Abrantes.) 

'"•^ " Caulaiucourt, Mankind! mankind!" exclaimed Na- 
poleon. {Sai)d-Amand. ) 

'''^ Berthier was made a Marshal, Prince of Wagram, and 
Prince of Neufchfitel, and was at Napoleon's side always. 
Many years later he committed suicide through remorse. 
(^Thiers.) 

'"-'Murat, King of Naples, was counted upon to defend the 
northeastern frontiers. He proved a traitor. (Thiers.) 

'" '' It was she (Caroline) who perhaps dealt him the final 
blow." (Pasquier.) 

*•■* Kead Thiers on this point. {Consulate and Em^nre.) 

'''^ When the Allies entered Paris Talleyrand remained and 
was very soon found useful to them. He became the head 
of the Provisional Government. {Scott, Thiers, Bourrienne, 
et al. ) 

'''' Fouche found it easy to change masters. {Bourrienne.) 

^' ' The careless Parisians were readj^ for the change. 
{Scott, Thiers.) 

^'* Napoleon's vacillation was natural and no proof of in- 
sincerity. 

119 " The act may be regarded as the noblest in Napoleon's 
life." {Junot.) 

^'^^ '• A little while— or six years." Napoleon's expression. 
{Bourrienne.) 

''*' '• In politics there is no resurrection." {Be Bemusat.) 



NOTES. 



'*"- This was an Arabinn poniard which Napoleon ordered 
Constant to place near him. {D' Abrantes.) 

'*^ Napoleon gave Constant 50,000 francs at this time for 
the purpose mentioned. {D^ Abrantes.^ note.) 

184 u jf J jjjjj jjq|, forsaken her, fortune would not have 
failed me," groaned Napoleon, {Saint- Amand.) 

^^^ Josephine died a few weeks after this, on May 29th, 
1814. 

"*^ Napoleon's very words. {Boiirrienne.) 

is: <• Here, gentlemen ! are you satisfied? '' said Napoleon. 
{BourrieiDie.) 

^^'^ Napoleon's phrase left a way to retreat. {TJders.) 

''^^ Napoleon f^aid in the first abdication, that the *' welfare 
of the country ... is inseparable from the rights of his 
[my] son." {Thiers.) 

'^^The abdication provided for the Regency of the Em- 
press. {Thierfi.) 

'^' "Ready to descend" was not conclusive. {Boiirrienne.) 

'^■^ The Allies rejected this abdication. {Scott.) 

'^■' Marshal Ney was shot for having supported Napoleon 
on his return from Elba. {Thiers.) 

'^'' Napoleon recalled even this half-useless paper. [Bour- 
rienne.) 

1^5 " The Guard remained loyal.'' {D'Abrantes.) 

'^" Historically correct. Constant, fearing suicidal inten- 
tions on Napoleon's part, hid the weapons. Another valet, 
one ]\Iarchand, helped him. [IJ Abranth.) 

'^' The young inferior officers would have cageily rallied. 
{Scott. ) 

'3*Napoleoa issued these orders excitedly. {Bourrienne.) 

199 A Corsican oath. {D' Abr antes.) 

-•'0 It was for France that Napoleon felt he suffered. 
( Thiers. ) 

-»i The Marshals stipulated for Napoleon's personal safety 
and dignity. {Thiers.) 



}24 NOTKS. 



-"-' On hearing- of Elba, ]S!"apoleon became keenly intere?=ted 
in its geography and military features. (Scott.) 

'■"■^ After Waterloo Napoleon offered still to drive the 
enemy out of France with the broken remnants of his army. 
(iStiint-Amand.) 

^°* It was Fouchrt who mockingly declined Napoleon's 
offers. {Saint- Any ind.) 

-•^^ The second form of abdication was unconditional and 
irrecoverable. {Thiers, Scott.) 

-"^ Rustan, the Mameluke slave, stealthily fled from the 
smking ship of Napoleon. {Bourrienue.) 

•"" Why did I not die at Arcis-sur-Aube ? '' said Napoleon. 
{S<(int-Am(ind.) 

'-'o« fie wrote to his nearest friends. {Bourrlenne.) 

203 Of Marie Louise, Napoleon spoke kindly. {Thiers.) 

-^^ This poison Napoleon had kept iu a little bag around 
his neck. It was Frussic acid. {If Abrantes.) 

-"Dr. Yvan was in attendance that night. {Junot, Haz- 
litt. ) 

-'-' It was Dr. Corvisart who gave it to Napoleon. {Junot ) 

213 ii You see that I cannot die," complained Napoleon. 
{Junot.) 

'^^'^ Napoleon reviewed the Guard at Foutainebleau and 
took a pathetic farewell of the Eagles. {Scott, Thiers, et (d.) 



